Srinagar,  June 10: Charging ruling National Conference with patronising criminals and land mafia in Jammu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said that arrest of a senior National Conference leader and former MLC of the party, T S Wazir in the Chopra Murder case has vindicated stand of the party.
 In a statement, the spokesman of the party said that crime graph has been increasing in the State in  general and Jammu region in particular.
 “The National Conference led regime has institutionalised land mafia and has given free hand to the criminals in Jammu region”, he said and pointed out that arrest of a senior NC was just a beginning. “Skeltons are coming out of the cupboard”, he said and regretted that Jammu has become a heaven of drug peddlers, land mafia and anti-social elements due to patronage of criminals by the ruling NC.
 He said that arrest of the NC leader in the most gruesome killing in Jammu city has substantiated PDP’s allegations that ruling party has been shielding such elements to terrorise common masses.
 During the two  and half year tenure of NC led coalition, crime has been institutionalised as ruling elites have vested interests in supporting and shielding criminals. “Patronizing by the ruling party leaders, crime and corruption combination is deadly trend and it would be proved disastrous for this region”, he said and added that ruling party politicians have been encouraging crime in Jammu.
 “Ironically In Kashmir the government has booked innocent people under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA)  to spread terror while in Jammu city dreaded criminals have been doled out license by the ruling party to commit crime”, he said.
 Meanwhile, Expressing grief over loss of human lives and properties in the devastating cloud burst in Doda district, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today demanded that on going rehabilitation and rescue operation should be expedite to minimize hardship being faced by the affected people.
 In a statement, Mehbooba has expressed her grief and sorrow over loss of life and property in the cloud burst in which a large number of people have became homeless.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST