Srinagar: After multiple attacks in Kashmir
Valley, a ruling National Conference (NC) leader on Tuesday night kicked
up a controversy alleging that Army may have had a hand but
later sought to defuse the row saying he has not accused any
security agency of involvement.
"The main finger of suspicion points towards the Army as
well," NC general secretary and party`s chief spokesman
Mustafa Kamal told reporters.
Militants have been blamed by the police for the four
attacks -- three grenade blasts and one pistol shooting -- amid
plans announced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah last week for
revoking the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA) from certain parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kamal, who is uncle of Omar Abdullah and brother of
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, suggested that the attacks
were an attempt to sabotage the efforts to phase out AFSPA
from the Valley.
"The finger of suspicion does point towards those vested
interests who do not want the AFSPA to go for their personal
interests," he said.
The Army while responding to Kamal`s allegation said it
was not "worth any comment".
"It is not worth any comment from our side," Army
spokesman Lt Col J S Brar said.
Unknown assailants today carried out four attacks
within a span of four hours in central Srinagar and in South
Kashmir injuring three CRPF personnel and one policeman.
Shortly after he made his controversial comments, Kamal
denied having said that Army had a hand in the strikes.
"I vehemently deny statements attributed to me of
accusing Army or any other security agency of being involved
in the grenade attacks,” Kamal, who was recently appointed as
the spokesman of the ruling party, said here.
He said 24 hours have not even passed since the
"unfortunate" incidents took place and that it would be
premature for anyone to speculate about the perpetrators of
these attacks.
"The police investigations are going on and it will
unravel the truth behind these attacks," Kamal said.
In an apparent reference to PDP, Kamal earlier said the
"finger of suspicion" also pointed towards the largest
opposition party in the state assembly that has been gunning
for Omar Abdullah.
PTI
