New Delhi, June 24: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah today sought immediate intervention of Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani in ordering a CBI probe into the killing of former state minister Mushtaq Lone. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Abdullah said that he had requested for a CBI probe into the assassination of Lone, who was shot dead by militants on September 11 while addressing an election rally in Lolab in Kupwara.

Investigations into the assassination had led to an unholy nexus between local police and militants as nearly 11 cops were arrested for being involved in the criminal conspiracy to kill lone.

A minister of ruling PDP-Congress government had stated that some leader of National Conference were allegedly involved in the crime.
"I want to know the entire case details of the case and I believe that the state government was using the case of Lone as a platform against my party and indulge in witch hunting," Abdullah said.
To a question whether he had received an assurance from Advani, he said, "The Deputy Prime Minister will study the case and take a decision soon."

Asked about the ongoing developments between India and Pakistan, Abdullah expressed the hope that Islamabad would respond positively to the hand of friendship extended by New Delhi this time.
"I only hope that the Islamabad regime shows sincerity and closes all the training camps and other terrorist breeding places and walk hand-in-hand with India," the former chief minister said.


Bureau Report