Omar condemns thrashing of independent MLA in J-K Assembly

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday condemned the thrashing of independent legislator Engineer Rashid by the BJP MLAs in the state assembly, saying the elected members should exercise control over their emotions.

"Whatever happened is condemnable. A member is being beaten up, this is the first time I am witnessing this in any House. If these members do not have control over their emotions then they should not attend the House. The Speaker is usually quick to suspend the members of the opposition but in this matter he is saying that he will investigate the matter," Omar told the media here.

"After the Supreme Court's order, what Engineer Rashid had done was not illegal. When he has not broken any law then why punish him?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Rashid cried foul over the incident and said that the BJP MLAs tried to kill him.

"The BJP MLAs started kicking and hitting me. They tried to kill me," he said.

The BJP MLAs earlier today thrashed Rashid for hosting a beef party at the MLA hostel yesterday.

The beef ban had led to violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir earlier.

The Supreme Court has suspended the ban for two months and constituted a three-judge bench to decide on the matter.