Mehbooba finally breaks silence on Pulwama woman’s killing

Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 2

Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday evening broke her silence on the gruesome killing of a 25-year-old woman by militants in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

In a tweet, she described the killing of the woman as “barbaric and gruesome”.

“Women living in conflict areas like Kashmir have faced unimaginable pain and trauma. No words are enough to condemn her gruesome and barbaric murder,” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, she had refused to comment on the issue, saying “it is my decision whether to speak on the issue”.

Mehbooba had virtually rebuked the TV journalist who asked her about her silence on the killing of the young woman, saying she was not answerable to him.

“I am not answerable to you. It is my decision and choice to post a tweet or speak on an issue,” Mehbooba had retorted to the journalist while leaving a media briefing in a huff at her residence here.

The PDP chief, who had recently visited the families of militants in Kashmir, used to comment and post tweets about the killing of civilians during violent clashes with security forces at encounter sites. On Friday morning, security forces had retrieved the body of a woman from south Kashmir after she was shot by militants. The chilling video of the execution went viral late Thursday night, mainly over Facebook and WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, condemning the incident, NC vice-president Omar Abdullah said, "Horrific murder and deserves the strongest condemnation. There can be no place for such brutal acts in a civilised society. Apologists for these murders are just as guilty as the perpetrators.”

Earlier, former Jammu and Kashmir Teachers’ Forum president Abdul Qayoom Wani joined the PDP here. He was welcomed into the party by Mehbooba Mufti and other senior leaders of the party.

Mehbooba also announced that Wani would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as the PDP candidate from Baramulla.

Had earlier refused to comment on issue  

Mehbooba Mufti had refused to comment on the incident, saying “it is my decision whether to speak on the issue”. Mehbooba had virtually rebuked the TV journalist who asked her about her silence on the killing of the young woman, saying she was not answerable to him. 

With inputs from PTI