Soldiers come to Kashmir for their duty but go back in coffins: Mehbooba Mufti

SRINAGAR: People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that from all over the country, soldiers come to Kashmir for their duty but go back in "coffins."

"Soldiers from all over the country come to Kashmir for their duty, but go back in coffins. Who is responsible for this if you say militancy has ended in the valley?... In the last 32 months, especially since this DGP has been appointed, the maximum casualties have taken place... You people guard the borders. So whose responsibility is it to stop infiltration? Is it the responsibility of regional parties?" Mufti asked the government.

"Your narrative has been going on for 6 years, what did you achieve? You have suffered a major setback in North Kashmir," she added.

Mufti further said that "no one is being held "accountable," adding that by now the heads should have rolled.

"There is no accountability. By now, the heads should have rolled. The DGP should have been sacked. Almost 50 soldiers have lost their lives in the last 32 months. No one is being held accountable," the PDP chief said, addressing a press conference in Srinagar.

She further said that the current DGP is busy "fixing things politically."

"The current DGP is busy fixing things politically. His job is to break the PDP, harass people and journalists, and threaten people. Verification has been weaponized. They are finding ways to impose UAPA on the maximum number of people. The maulwi are being blackmailed. We don't need a fixer here, we need a DGP. We have had DGPs from other states before and they have worked very well. No one has worked on communal lines like things are being done now," she said.

The encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Desa Forest area on Monday evening. The soldiers killed in action have been identified as Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra and Sepoy Ajay.

Earlier, the Indian Army expressed its condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Doda encounter and said that the Army stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.

"General Upendra Dwivedi COAS and all ranks of the Indian Army convey their deepest condolences to the Bravehearts, Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra and Sepoy Ajay, who laid down their lives in the line of duty while undertaking a counter-terrorist operation in Doda to ensure peace in the region. Indian Army stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief," ADG PI-Indian Army posted on X.

On Monday night, based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by the Indian Army and JK Police was in progress in Doda. According to the White Knight Corps, contact with terrorists was established at about 9pm during which a heavy firefight ensued. Four Army personnel, including an officer, were killed in the firefight. Meanwhile, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi also spoke with defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday to brief him on the encounter in Doda.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.