J&K: Death of two youths in army firing would vitiate poll atmosphere, says Omar

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the deaths of two youths in army firing in Budgam have “vitiated” the election atmosphere in the Valley and stressed that such incidents have no place in an improving security situation in the state. A day after two youths were killed in army firing, Omar spoke to Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on the matter. [caption id=“attachment_1787347” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Omar Abdullah. AFP[/caption] “Have spoken to Union Defence Minister @arunjaitley reg. yesterday’s incident where army firing resulted in 2 avoidable deaths,” he said in a tweet. “Such killings have no place in an otherwise improving security environment where militancy incidents are at record low levels,” Omar tweeted. The Chief Minister said the deaths have vitiated the election atmosphere in the Valley which was already strained by the post-flood reconstruction challenge. “These deaths have served to vitiate the poll atmosphere already strained by the post flood reconstruction challenge that people face,” he added. Two youths were killed and two others were injured in army firing at Chattergam in Budgam district of Kashmir yesterday. While regretting the deaths, the army claimed that the youths, who were travelling in a car, did not stop at two vehicle checking points and even tried to break through the third barrier when asked to stop. The army has initiated a court of inquiry to ascertain the facts. The Government had last night termed as “highly regrettable” the Budgam incident and said a fair inquiry will be held and action taken against those found guilty. “The Budgam incident in the Kashmir valley is highly regrettable. A fair inquiry will be held and action taken against those found guilty,” Defence Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted. Omar’s National Conference has asked to order a probe into the incident or allow the state government to do so. Model code of conduct is in force in Jammu and Kashmir, which is going to polls in a five-phased exercise with the first phase of polling scheduled on 25 November. PTI