Avinash Azad
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the recent civilian killings in the Billawar area of Kathua district.
Addressing the Legislative Assembly, he conveyed collective grief on behalf of the House while demanding a thorough investigation into the tragic incidents.
“As the leader of the House, I want to formally express our collective concern over the killings in Billawar and extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We mourn the loss of all three innocent civilians who were killed in this incident, as well as the two others who lost their lives in a similar incident before this,” the Chief Minister stated solemnly.
Omar Abdullah emphasized the urgency of a comprehensive probe to determine the circumstances leading to the killings and to identify those responsible. “It is imperative to ascertain how and why the incident occurred and who was responsible for it,” he said, underlining the need for accountability and justice.
Demands Clarity on Unequal Access to Affected Area
The Chief Minister also raised serious questions regarding the visit of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) to the affected area while the Deputy Chief Minister was barred from doing so. Expressing concern over the apparent disparity, he remarked, “If I am correct, the Leader of Opposition visited the area. It appears that a political narrative is being attached to the situation. Yesterday, I spoke to the Deputy Chief Minister, who was advised against visiting the area due to the prevailing situation. I told him that as responsible individuals, we must ensure that our presence does not escalate tensions. If the situation is volatile, it is prudent for both of us to refrain from visiting.”
According to Omar Abdullah, the Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary was informed by a senior police officer from Kathua district that the situation remained tense, and he was advised to postpone his visit for 2-3 days until normalcy was restored. Questioning the inconsistency, Abdullah asserted, “What is beyond my understanding is that if the situation was indeed so volatile that the Deputy Chief Minister was advised against visiting, how was the LoP allowed to do so? We demand answers from those who permitted the LoP’s visit while preventing the Deputy CM from going there.”
Assembly Condemns Attack on MLA Bani
Earlier in the day, the Legislative Assembly unanimously condemned the recent attack on MLA Bani, Dr. Rameshwar Singh. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather voiced the collective disapproval of the House, stating, “This is a genuine concern for all of us which the members have raised. We condemn the attack and it should be thoroughly investigated.”
The issue was initially raised by Dr. Rameshwar Singh and subsequently supported by other MLAs who demanded a time-bound inquiry into the incident. The Bani MLA was allegedly manhandled by a group of protestors on Saturday night when he visited the sub-district hospital in Billawar to meet the families of the three deceased civilians. While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Speaker Rather reminded the Assembly that any matter already under investigation would not be open for further discussion within the House. As the call for justice grows louder, the Chief Minister’s pointed questions and the Assembly’s collective condemnation underscore the rising political tensions and the demand for transparent accountability in the aftermath of these violent incidents.
