Terming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s latest remarks on Gool killings in which he held a local imam responsible for the trouble, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said it is an attempt to repeat the Shopian farce in the name of an inquiry.

Mehbooba Mufti while speaking here today after a visit to the SKIMS where she visited a number of victims of government violence said the present coalition has pushed the state into a virtual anarchy where every individual faces a threat for one or the other reason.

Accompanied by the party leaders Tariq Hameed Karra and Syed Basharat Bukhari MLA Sangrama, Mehbooba inquired about the health of the Sarpanch Khazir Mohammad of Krankshivan Sopore who was seriously injured in an attack by an unidentified gunman. She also went to see Jan Mohamamd from Noorbagh in the Eidgah area who was allegedly pushed by police personnel from first floor of his house.

Mehbooba said the Chief Minister’s comments on Gool are not just irresponsible but are a deliberate attempt to shield the guilty. “It reminded us one of the sequence of events in the Shopian tragedy where the death of two unfortunate women was ultimately closed as a case of drowning and prosecution launched against lawyers, doctors and those who sought justice against the deceased.”

“One fears a similar course of events is being followed in the Gool killings which might ultimately end up in action against the victims”, said Mehbooba.

She said people who protested killings and demanded justice are already being harassed and persecuted. “In the entire Chenab Valley police is raiding the houses of people who participated in the protests, filing cases against them and arresting them. One hopes that the killings are not attributed ultimately to wild animals and people like the local Imams prosecuted for the atrocities committed by the men in uniform.”

Mehbooba said there are tell tale signs of anarchy in the entire state. A teen aged girl was gang raped in Kishtwar and in all likelihood the chief minister might issue a clean chit even to the perpetrators of that heinous crime. “Kashmiris are presented to the world as a species different from human beings and victims of misrule referred in routine as ‘stone pelters’ ,” she said.

The PDP president said the rampant killings by government forces and simultaneous appearance of the ‘unidentified gunmen’ have been the hallmark of all governments run by NC. “That is happening now also with innocent common people, policemen, security personnel and Panchayat members becoming victims in a relapse of the disastrous NC rule between 1996 and 2002.”

Condemning the reign of terror unleashed in different parts of the Sonawari constituency of Bandipore district the PDP president said the ruling party is frustrated with its growing unpopularity and is punishing the common people. “The government forces at the behest of the local MLA are indulging in worst repression in the area especially in Hajin town. Scores of people have been injured, houses have been damaged and cases filed against many young people.”

She said Sonawari area has seen worst Ikhwan atrocities in the past and it was only after 2002 that the people there like everywhere in Kashmir had heaved sigh of relief. However she said the NC is now openly aligning with the remnants of IKhwan and many of them have joined its ranks to harass the people at the behest of the local MLA.

According to statement issued, PDP district president Bandipora Yasir Reshi today went to Hajin and visited the families affected by the brute force used by government. He also inquired about the health of the seriously injured youth, many of whom have been sprayed with pellets.

Reshi conveyed sympathies of the party and its president Mehbooba Mufti to the victims and wished them speedy recovery on her behalf.

Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has urged the police to take stringent action against those involved in an attack on a disabled girl Shameema D/o Mohd Sultan Parray of Malura Mujgund  Batmaloo some time back. She visited the girl in the SKIMS along with party leaders Tariq Hameed Karra and Syed Basharat Bukhari.

Condemning the dastardly act Mehbooba said the perpetrators of this crime had crossed all limits and behaved in the most inhuman way by setting fire to a helpless and disabled girl. “Unfortunately there is an impression that police is going soft on this case which would extend a terrible massage to the society,” Mehbooba said, adding this is a case in which exemplary punishment should be meted out to the culprits and no leniency shown to them.