Incidents like Pampore defaming Kashmir: Mehbooba

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 26

Expressing anguish over the Pampore attack, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said such incidents brought a bad name to Kashmir. 

“Such incidents are defaming Kashmir, defaming the state and also our religion under whose garb all this is done,” she said.

Militants had yesterday ambushed a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bus that was part of a convoy near Pampore, killing eight paramilitary personnel and injuring 22. 

The Chief Minister, who spoke to the media after the wreath-laying ceremony, said the Pampore attack was “condemnable”, especially as it was carried out in the holy month of Ramadan. 

Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, several ministers in the Cabinet, senior officers of the civil administration, the police and the CRPF saluted the martyrs.

Mehbooba also pointed out that attacks like the one in Pampore prompted countries to issue advisories against travelling to Jammu and Kashmir. 

“With much difficulty, tourists have again started visiting Kashmir. But several countries don’t want their citizens to visit the state as they feel it is unsafe. This, in turn, is affecting the state’s tourism industry,” she said.

“In this era of development, many countries are investing in the region. But when incidents like these happen in Kashmir, they step back,” Mehbooba  said.