Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said security forces will avenge the construction workers’ death in the brutal attack in Ganderbal, and “exact a price” that the terrorists will remember for the time to come.
Sinha called for justice to the victims as he blamed Pakistan for “still trying to kill innocent people” in the region to disrupt peace.
Seven persons including a local doctor and six non-local labourers were killed while five others sustained injuries in a terror attack at an under-construction tunnel at Gund in Ganderbal district.
In a post on X, Sinha said, “The brutal and savage attack against construction workers will be avenged. I’ve asked the J&K Police, security forces to exact a price that will be remembered by the terrorists and their associates for time to come.”
Addressing a function here earlier in the day, the LG said, “We won’t forget yesterday’s dastardly attack.”
The LG said there was still a threat from the “neighbouring country”. “It is still trying to kill innocent people in this region and to destabilise peace here,” he added at the Police Martyrs’ Day function.
Sinha said there was a need to stop drug smuggling and improve counter-insurgency operations.
“We need to stop drug smuggling here. We need to be aware of possible threats. We need to improve counter-insurgency operations,” he said.
The J&K LG said while innocent people should be protected, the guilty should also not be spared.
The LG paid tributes to those killed in the line of duty and said their sacrifices will be remembered forever.
“Our forces have put up a brave fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and to honour them, ‘Balidan Stambh’ was built. Their sacrifices are supreme,” he said.
Sinha assured the families of security personnel killed on duty that their education, health, insurance cover and other things would be taken care of. “We are with them for their bright future”.
He said people should respect the sacrifices of the forces as no nation can develop if it is not secure. “Whenever any incident happens, police have to bear the brunt. So I request people to respect the sacrifices of our forces and encourage them,” he said.
“We should salute them because forces are neither Hindus or Muslims or Sikhs. For the peace in the region, I request the people of Jammu and Kashmir to equally participate in this growth process,” he added.
Won’t Let ‘Vested Interests’ Prevent Development: Omar
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he will not allow “vested interests” to prevent the benefits of peace and development from reaching the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who “enthusiastically” participated in the recent elections.
Talking to reporters here, Omar Abdullah said he will ensure that no obstacles impede the flow of developmental benefits to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The people have taken part in elections with enthusiasm with the hope that there will be improvement in their lives. We will not step back from that mission,” Abdullah said.
The chief minister had gone to the SKIMS Hospital at Soura to enquire about the condition of those injured in the terror attack in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district on Sunday night.
Asked if those with vested interests were trying to target the development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said he would not allow that to happen.
“When did the vested interests want the situation here to normalise? This is nothing new. But we have defeated these very vested interests in the past and we will defeat them again,” Abdullah asserted.
“We will not allow the development here to be stopped. If there are shortcomings in the security grid, we will remove them. I spoke to the DGP and we would advise all big projects not to take security issues lightly.
“Whatever they can do on their own, let them do it and let the security forces fill the gaps that remain,” he added.
The chief minister termed the attack as “very unfortunate”.
“Words are not enough to condemn this attack. What can be achieved by the use of terror against innocents? We have been seeing this for the past 35 years and nothing has changed in J&K.
“Whatever can be achieved for Jammu and Kashmir, it can be done in a peaceful atmosphere. Obviously, the reason behind this attack is to prove that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not conducive,” he said.
Abdullah said the administration, especially police and security forces, will have to be extra alert and ensure that such attacks are not repeated.
“We have seen such an attack on a big project after many years. Before this, an attack took place at an IRCON camp when a railway tunnel was being executed,” he said.
On the oath-taking of MLAs earlier in the day, the chief minister said the first session of the Legislative Assembly will be held in the first week of November.
“Next month, the first week of November, the session of the legislature will take place. The legislature will start its work,” he said.
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