The National Conference (NC) and the Congress have cornered the Centre over its claims of improved security in Jammu and Kashmir, following a militant attack in Kulgam that killed a former Territorial Army (TA) soldier and injured his wife and niece.
NC president Farooq Abdullah, while speaking to reporters in Jammu, questioned the government’s claims that militancy had ended in Kashmir.
"Ask those who claim militancy has ended," he said. "If such incidents continue to happen, where have their claims gone?"
He accused the Centre of making claims in and outside Parliament, and even from mountaintops, without acknowledging the ground reality.
Echoing similar concerns, JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra said that the recent attacks in both Kashmir and Jammu had exposed the government’s claims on security in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The government must seriously rethink its approach and present the truth to the country," he said.
He argued that the widening gap between New Delhi’s claims and the actual conditions on the ground was becoming increasingly evident. "These claims are not just inaccurate but misleading," he said.
In response to the attack, security forces have launched a large-scale search operation in Kulgam district to track down the assailants. Manzoor Ahmad, the former TA soldier, was shot by militants and sustained critical injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. His wife and niece were also wounded in the attack.
Following the incident, senior police and Army officials reached the scene to assess the situation, and the area was swiftly cordoned off to prevent the attackers from escaping. Security forces have intensified searches, combing through dense orchards, residential areas, and suspected hideouts. Drones and sniffer dogs have also been deployed to assist in locating the assailants.
Authorities are examining CCTV footage and other technical evidence, while several individuals from the village and nearby hamlets are being questioned. With the situation still unfolding, security agencies remain on high alert as they work to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The killing has been widely condemned, including by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, as political leaders continue to press the Centre for accountability on its security claims in Jammu and Kashmir.