Poonch and Rajouri districts have seen a lot of gunfights and killing of Army officers, including jawans.
SRINAGAR
Two former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir have blamed BJP for misleading people of the country that J&K has become peaceful post abrogation of Article 370, while paying rich tributes to the recently killed army officers and soldiers in the Rajouri encounter.
It is in place to mention that South of Pir Panchal Region like Poonch and Rajouri districts in the recent past have seen a lot of gunfights and killing of army officers, including jawans. In the latest encounter at Rajouri two army captains and three soldiers were killed in the line of duty.
“Terrible news from Rajouri where 4 army personnel, including 2 officers, have laid down their lives in the line of duty. While condemning the continuing efforts to spread militancy into hitherto peaceful areas of Pir Panchal region I send my sincere condolences to the families of those who offered the ultimate sacrifice today,” Abdullah, the vice president of National Conference, posted on X.
Mehbooba Mufti in her message on X has said, “Heartbreaking to see officers & jawans lose their lives in the line of duty despite GOIs misleading false claims that all is well in J&K. The price of this facade is being borne by them & innocent civilians who’ve become collateral damage in unabated violence. My deepest sympathies with their families & loved ones”. While Mehbooba Mufti has been somehow silent in her criticism against BJP in the recent past, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been very vocal while he has been addressing his party workers at different places in Kashmir valley.
Recently while speaking in Beerwah at Budgam district, Omar Abdullah said that BJP deceived people of the country by blaming Article 370 for militancy. He said that if that was the case why are there encounters going on even in the peaceful areas like Rajouri and Poonch.
He said that the false narrative was created by BJP that militancy was due to the existence of Article 370, and its removal was must for peace and tranquillity. At another public gathering in Kulgam at South Kashmir, he said that there is an urgent need for holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir so that people can get their grievances redressed.
He said that common people were suffering in Jammu and Kashmir while the BJP was churning new stories about Jammu and Kashmir only to delay elections and deny people their rights under constitution.
It is in place to mention that there have been worrying inputs from Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region about the presence of militants and their hold in the hilly areas.
After paying his last respects to five army personnel including two captains in the Rajouri encounter, Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi said on Friday that there are about two dozen militants active in the Pir Panchar Region. He said that they were trying to clear the hilly areas and the latest gunfight was the result of one of such operations.