Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh today condemned the attack in Udhampur on a Kashmiri trucker who succumbed to his injuries and said the perpetrators should not be spared.
The leader from Jammu, the region where the attack took place nine days back, said that "in future we (must) ensure that no such incident occurs" as he appealed for peace and communal harmony in the state in "these testing times".
He cautioned the people of the state against falling prey to the anti-national elements who would try to take advantage of the situation and flayed the strike call given by separatist leadership in the backdrop of the death of the truck conductor Zahid.
"Everyone in the country and the state of Jammu and Kashmir is shocked and sad over the death of Zahid who passed away in a hospital in Delhi today," Singh told reporters here. Zahid was among two persons injured in the attack.
Expressing his condolences to the bereaved family, the BJP leader said the perpetrators of the crime should not be spared.
"This type of action is condemnable and action should be taken against the people who are responsible for such attack," he said.
"Our condolences are with the family of the deceased and we pray to God that the departed soul rests in peace and we also urge the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to maintain peace and communal harmony in these testing times," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the "government did everything to shift them to New Delhi. We took every care. But unfortunately he is not amongst us (now). I condemn this and in future we (must) ensure that no such incident occurs."
In a word of caution to the people of the state, he said, "Pakistan, anti-social and anti-national elements will try to take advantage from this situation but we should try to maintain peace and harmony in the state."
He said the announcement of the separatist group JKLF, "calling it a deliberate attempt to communally polarise the valley is an attempt by these elements to vitiate atmosphere. They should rethink on that."
As he appealed for calm in the state, Singh hailed the "statesmanship" of both the government as well as of the opposition for issuing statement calling for peace.
"People should maintain peace and communal harmony. I appeal to all the people in Jammu and Kashmir, because our government, our opposition have shown a great statesmanship by issuing a statement in the assembly that (we) must maintain peace and order here. Brotherhood should be there," he said.
