The death toll following the Srinagar protests is now 21. Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday, assuring central assistance to the state government if needed. Mehbooba chaired a high-level meet on Sunday evening to take stock of the situation.
Mehbooba appealed to the separatists and parents of kids pelting stones to help bring peace. She condemn the deaths of the civilian.
Separately, Rajnath Singh has also reached out to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah regarding the crisis. Sonia Gandhi, on Monday, released a statement saying, “There can be no compromise on matters relating to national security and terrorism must be dealt with firmly and forcefully.”
She added, “Even so, the death of so many of our citizens and attack on security forces is very painful. The political process has made many gains in J&K over the last two decades particularly and these must not get lost. I appeal to my brothers and sisters in the Valley to allow political parties to find durable and enduring ways of fulfilling their aspirations meaningfully in a peaceful and democratic manner.”
Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to comment on the attacks. He tweeted, “this vicious cycle of violence would not stop. Only after the lethal use of force ends can we begin to pull the valley back from the abyss.”
this vicious cycle of violence would not stop. Only after the lethal use of force ends can we begin to pull the valley back from the abyss..
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 11, 2016
For our part @JKNC_ will play what ever role is required to help normalise the situation. But onus lies on state & central governments.
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 11, 2016
Separately, separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has also asked the people to refrain from attacking police stations and to maintain communal harmony.
