Punish the culprits, but do not brand all J&K residents as terrorists, says CM

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday called for stringent punishment against those involved in the Delhi bomb blast but cautioned against branding all residents of Jammu and Kashmir as terrorists.

Speaking to the media after attending the convocation ceremony at the University of Jammu, Abdullah said, “Investigation is continuing in the Delhi bomb blast case, but there is a need to ensure that every resident of J&K is not seen as a terrorist… every resident of J&K doesn’t support terrorism… there are only a few people who try to destroy peace and brotherhood. It is unfortunate when every resident of J&K is seen through the same lens.”

He said that viewing people with suspicion created social division. “I believe that those responsible for the attack should be given severe punishment,” he added.

When asked about doctors from the Valley being involved in terrorism, Abdullah said such cases were not new. “Who says educated people do not get involved in it (terrorism)? Even professors have been found involved in the past,” he remarked.

Commenting on the dismissal of a doctor by the J&K Government in 2023 for alleged terror links — who was later hired by Al-Falah University in Haryana — Abdullah questioned the lack of follow-up action. “I am amazed that the doctor was dismissed from the job, but what action was taken against him? If there was proof that he was involved in terror activities, why didn’t the government go to court? There was no prosecution and the result is in front of us,” he said.

The said doctor has reportedly been missing from the university since the Delhi blast.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said security forces were determined to dismantle the terror ecosystem but emphasised that society too must play its role. “Society must actively counter terrorism because it is a multifaceted challenge. Society plays a critical role in recognising and reporting suspicious activities and countering radicalisation,” he said.

“If people do not stand strongly against terrorists, it will become an existential threat to society, destroying its stability, peace and progress,” he warned.

Sinha urged the “enlightened people” to expose those who shelter terrorists and spread extremist narratives. “You must stand against such elements,” he said, adding that terrorism posed a fundamental threat to peace and progress.

“The people of J&K have suffered its brunt for over three decades. But now, the youth here are increasingly dreaming of and working towards goals similar to those in the rest of the country,” he said.