Srinagar, The death of five army soldiers in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district is alarming, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday, accusing the union territory's administration of being lax with the security situation.
The attack took place on Monday when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrol in the Badnota area of Kathua. A massive search operation is underway to nab the terrorists behind the ambush in which five people were also injured.
"It is very unfortunate. I think no criticism of this attack is strong enough. Losing five brave army soldiers in the line of duty in a single attack is something we should all be alarmed by," Abdullah told ideos.
The vice president of North Carolina and former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K said the administration needs to be more alert.
"We have been saying time and again that militancy is a problem in J-K and cannot be wished away. This government had convinced itself that somehow August 5, 2019 is the solution to all the problems, including violence and terror, but clearly "That is not the case," he said referring to the day when Article 370 was abrogated and the state was downgraded to the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
"I think the administration in J-K needs to be more alert, I think they are showing quite a lax trend regarding the security situation and let's hope attacks like this don't happen again," Abdullah added.
Will the recent spate of terror attacks, especially in the Jammu region, have an impact on the holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir?
"Assembly elections are a matter of order of the Supreme Court and I don't think the security situation is so bad that elections cannot be held. We have had elections in 1996, we have had Parliament elections in 1998, 1999, when I think the situation was much worse.
"So unless the government is willing to accept that the situation here today is worse than in 1996, I think the elections should go ahead," Abdullah responded.
Referring to the withdrawal of security for some politicians, he said it is fine if it is done on the basis of proper security analysis and assessment.
"But we have seen that both providing security and withdrawing it in J-K is largely a political issue. It is done for political considerations. So I think that should be avoided," Abdullah added.
The attack took place on Monday when a group of heavily armed terrorists ambushed a patrol in the Badnota area of Kathua. A massive search operation is underway to nab the terrorists behind the ambush in which five people were also injured.
"It is very unfortunate. I think no criticism of this attack is strong enough. Losing five brave army soldiers in the line of duty in a single attack is something we should all be alarmed by," Abdullah told ideos.
The vice president of North Carolina and former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K said the administration needs to be more alert.
"We have been saying time and again that militancy is a problem in J-K and cannot be wished away. This government had convinced itself that somehow August 5, 2019 is the solution to all the problems, including violence and terror, but clearly "That is not the case," he said referring to the day when Article 370 was abrogated and the state was downgraded to the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
"I think the administration in J-K needs to be more alert, I think they are showing quite a lax trend regarding the security situation and let's hope attacks like this don't happen again," Abdullah added.
Will the recent spate of terror attacks, especially in the Jammu region, have an impact on the holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir?
"Assembly elections are a matter of order of the Supreme Court and I don't think the security situation is so bad that elections cannot be held. We have had elections in 1996, we have had Parliament elections in 1998, 1999, when I think the situation was much worse.
"So unless the government is willing to accept that the situation here today is worse than in 1996, I think the elections should go ahead," Abdullah responded.
Referring to the withdrawal of security for some politicians, he said it is fine if it is done on the basis of proper security analysis and assessment.
"But we have seen that both providing security and withdrawing it in J-K is largely a political issue. It is done for political considerations. So I think that should be avoided," Abdullah added.
