Minister blames Union Govt for security lapse in Pahalgam

Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi today said that the lack of security at Pahalgam led to the killing of tourists. “Why was there no security arrangement at the meadow in Pahalgam where more than 2,000 tourists were present during the peak tourist season,” he said while addressing mediapersons here.

The minister questioned how did terrorists reach there so easily and shot dead people. “The Central Government should explain this big security lapse,” he added.

The minister said that there had been a huge security lapse and accountability should be fixed for the killings. He added, “Besides fixing responsibility, the Central Government should make proper standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tourist and other sensitive places to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.”

The minister praised a Muslim youth, who died while trying to save tourists. “I salute the ponywallah who died while trying to save tourists. He could have easily saved himself but he grabbed the gun of a terrorist but was shot dead by other terrorist,” he added.