Srinagar, July 23 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said terrorism cannot be eradicated through house demolitions or mass detentions alone, asserting that lasting peace in the Union Territory can only be achieved by winning the confidence and support of the people.
Speaking to reporters here, Abdullah said security forces can deal with terrorism to a certain extent, but its complete elimination requires public participation.
“We will not improve the situation by demolishing houses or arresting thousands of people. Such measures will only worsen the situation. Terrorism cannot end without the support of the people,” he said.
Referring to the recent Anantnag terror attack in which a police head constable was killed, the chief minister said people across Jammu and Kashmir were outraged over the incident but cautioned against actions that could alienate the public.
“People are angry over the killing of the policeman, but when thousands of people are detained, that anger gets diverted. We must take the people along in this fight,” he said.
On the demolition of houses linked to alleged militants, Abdullah said such actions were not in line with the spirit of the Supreme Court’s directions. He recalled that similar demolitions were halted after the Pahalgam attack when investigations indicated the attackers had come from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
On alleged paper leak cases, the chief minister welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on addressing the concerns of youth and said the government should engage with young people instead of ignoring their issues. He added that investigations into the paper leak cases had already been conducted and the matter was before the CBI.
Abdullah also said the government was working to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s startup ecosystem through seed capital support, incubators and entrepreneurship programmes, with a focus on sectors such as agriculture, horticulture and renewable energy.
Highlighting the impact of recurring heavy rains and cloudbursts, he called for a comprehensive long-term disaster management plan to safeguard infrastructure, saying recent rainfall had caused damage in several areas, including Beerwah in central Kashmir.(NVI)
