Handwara unrest: Farooq Abdullah takes on "failed" J&K govt

Reasi (Jammu and Kashmir): National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Saturday took on the newly formed PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir over the recent Handwara clashes, saying it must work to end violence.

"The government should have stopped this from happening, but it failed. Today, the government should take care of the fighting. The government must work to end the violence. We can never bring peace in the state if innocents die," Abdullah told ANI.

Meanwhile, fresh clashes broke out today between protestors and the police in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The clashes broke out as the agitators were protesting against the state of unrest in Handwara after a minor girl was allegedly molested by Indian Army personnel.

Handwara is observing a shutdown as the area witnessed a tensed calm with the security still beefed up and restrictions still imposed.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the tense situation in Handwara, the government has decided to send additional Central Armed Police Forces to strengthen the security grid in the Kashmir valley.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi convened a meeting, here today, of senior officials from Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Defence, Central Armed Police Forces and the Ministry of Home Affairs to review the situation and assess the requirements of Jammu and Kashmir Government to bring the situation under control without any further loss of lives.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is in regular touch with senior officials of Government of Jammu and Kashmir and has been monitoring the situation on a regular basis.

MHA has assured full cooperation and support to the Government of J-K to ensure that there is no further loss of lives. The government said that it is concerned over the loss of human lives in the valley during the last four days.