Omar makes emotional appeal for peace in Kashmir

SRINAGAR - As the Kashmir Valley continued to simmer with anger over 11 civilian killings in the last 15 days, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday made an emotional appeal for peace, asking parents to stop their children from throwing stones at security forces.

“With folded hands, I appeal to all the parents to counsel their children, to ensure that their children do not come out and engage security forces in stone pelting,” Abdullah told a news conference as violence spread to the southern region of the valley where three fresh killings sparked more street protests Tuesday.

At least 11 people, mostly young boys, have been killed in clashes with police and security forces in the last 15 days. The cycle of violence refuses to die down even as the government clamped curfew in southern, northern and central parts of the valley.

Abdullah denied that the protests were spontaneous or “because the people were angry with his governance”.

“This is a battle of wits, battle of ideas, battle of ideologies, in which various anti-national forces and vested interests have come together to create trouble,” he said.

The chief minister said it was “extremely unfortunate that emotional and vulnerable youth are being exploited by these very forces and are being brought about to the forefront resulting in the tragic consequences”.

Addressing the media at his Gupkar road residence here, he said the government had a duty to maintain law and order and that the curfew imposed in various parts of the valley would be enforced strictly.

“The security forces have been told that with the caveat of the maximum restraint possible, they will have to enforce the curfew so that the situation can be brought under control. We have a duty, we will do everything possible in the shortest possible time to restore normalcy.”

Abdullah said he won’t blame the security forces only for the worsening situation.

“It takes two hands to clap,” he said, adding the security forces could not be expected “to constantly show restraint while you are constantly seeking to engage them”.

“It is these sorts of actions that led in the kind of situation we are facing today.”

Without naming Hurriyat Conference or other separatist outfits, Abdullah, who took over as the chief minister in January 2009 asked political parties of “various shades and ideologies to set aside their political differences, to come together so that from a common platform we can ensure that today’s deaths to do not recur”.

“Insha Allah, I am confident that if all of us work together, if all of us make up our minds… it is not beyond of realm of possibility that peace will soon be restored in the valley,” he said.