Srinagar June 20: Condemning strongly the “dance of death” on the streets of Kashmir, the Peoples Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti, on Sunday accused the state government of declaring a war on its people.
“The state government seems to have declared a war on its own people. Young children falling to indiscriminate shooting by state forces is nothing but a deliberate attempt to kill them under a plan without any reason,” she said in a statement here. “The sustained campaign to kill innocent youngsters exposes the criminal attitude of the government in executing the systematic plan.”

 Mehbooba said while she sympathized with the bereaved families, no condolences or solidarity can reduce their pain. “I wonder whether it would provide an occasion to the state rulers to introspect and feel accountable to their conscience,” she said, condemning the killing of Muhammad Rafiq Bangroo of Safakadal and other youth in action by men in uniform.
 Mehbooba alleged the present dispensation had “by its callous and insensitive attitude” eroded the credibility of entire political class. “Things could take a worse turn for everyone who had democracy a chance in the recent years. But our rulers have unfortunately wasted it in filling their coffers and adding to personal luxuries,” she said.

 She alleged that the government had outsourced the state to police and security agencies. “This has brought the state on the verge of a new disaster as our graveyards have once again become the repositories of the youth,” Mehbooba said. “Youth who should have been the resource of our future are unfortunately heading for graveyards with nobody in the government bothered about the daily mayhem.” 

 She said the security forces enjoyed impunity under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and “get away with murder in absence of any accountability.” “It is an open secret now that the chief minister has not taken action in any case of atrocity where he could have done so without any legal hurdles,” she said, adding, “The government is making a mention of AFSPA occasionally only under pressure from the public.”

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