Family members must not be targeted: Mehbooba on Delhi blast probe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday called for a transparent probe into the Delhi blast. However, she expressed concern, saying that innocent family members linked to the suspects were being harassed.

Speaking at a party event here, Mehbooba condemned the incident and described it as heartbreaking. “I have no words to condemn it. Seeing lives lost and bodies scattered is simply heartbreaking,” she said.

The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J&K said such acts risk bringing stigma to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “If the reports about the involvement of Kashmiri doctors turn out to be true, it will be worrying and devastating for our people. Doctors are the cream of our society, and nothing can be more worrying for us if our intelligent people are involved,” she said.

Mehbooba urged the authorities to ensure a free, fair, and transparent investigation into the case. “The government should give stringent punishment to those involved in it, but those family members that you are detaining on the basis of suspicion should be treated in a certain way. Let those be questioned and investigated, but not by considering them criminals. Innocent family members must not be targeted. Crime has not been proven yet; however, families of the accused are being harassed. It is unacceptable,” she said.

Urging the government to expedite the probe, Mehbooba said that the PDP has always sought the resolution of the issue. “Until that happens, such acts, which should not happen, will, God forbid, keep happening. The violence should end, and Kashmir should come out of this torment.” Highlighting how raids are underway in Kashmir in connection with the Delhi blast and people being detained, Mehbooba said, “I request the Central government, we feel the pain of what happened in Delhi more than you because we have faced this bloodshed for many years. I request that there should be a transparent probe into it and it should be done quickly,” she added.

Earlier, former District president Ganderbal of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Kaiser Sultan Jin, along with his supporters, joined the PDP and were welcomed into the party fold by Mufti and other senior leaders.