Omar Abdullah accuses Mehbooba Mufti of failing to assess situation in Kashmir; J&K CM urges peace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had voiced concern over the incidents of violence in the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday morning reiterated her appeal for calm in the Valley that has been witnessing violence since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani, on Friday evening.

Mufti today paid tributes to the martyrs of 1931 struggle against Dogra autocratic rule. Under heavy security, Mufti went to the martyrs` graveyard in Naqashband Sahib area of old Srinagar city where a guard of honour was presented to her.

Meanwhile, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also paid tribute to 1931 ‘martyrs’ and said he was `shocked` to see that people were ferried in police buses to state function to convey that normalcy has returned. How will normalcy prevail in such a situation, asked Abdullah.

Talking to reporters, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister lashed out at the state government for being unable to handle the violence, saying either the authorities couldn't assess the situation after the killing of Burhan Wani or they couldn't prepare to manage it.

Brazen shamelessness of the @MehboobaMufti #BJPDP Govt, ferrying people in police buses to state function to convey normalcy has returned. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 13, 2016

Misplaced priorities that put theatrics & falsified public participation over & above the ground realities so as to befool bosses in Delhi. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 13, 2016

On Tuesday, Mufti had urged Kashmiri youths to show "patience and calm" at this "critical and sensitive" hour and had described the situation in Kashmir as "a matter of concern for all of us".

"Bloodshed will result in nothing. Life comes once. It is our duty to respect and appreciate this Godsend gift," Mebooba said in a passionate appeal in Urdu. Her appeal came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced concern over the incidents of violence in the Kashmir Valley.

Meanwhile, curfew continued for the fifth day in most parts of the Valley on Wednesday as 34 people died during this period in the vicious cycle of violence.

Convoys of Amarnath Yatra-bound pilgrims and tourists to and from north Kashmir's Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district are escorted by mobile escorts and road opening parties (ROPs) for safety.

Both the road to the Baltal Yatra base camp and the highway connecting the Ladakh region with the Valley pass through Ganderbal district.

Violence erupted in the Kashmir Valley after security forces killed Burhan Wani, the 22-year-old commander of Kashmir's largest rebel group, Hizbul Mujahideen, and two associates in a village on Friday.

At least 34 people, including 33 civilians and a policeman, have been killed in the clashes between the security forces and unruly mobs during the last four days in the Valley.