Srinagar, July 23 (KNS) : Senior Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader and MLA Langate, Sheikh Khursheed, on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of Jammu and Kashmir Police Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, who was shot dead in a targeted terror attack at Lal Chowk in Anantnag.

In a statement, Sheikh Khursheed termed the incident "unfortunate" and said AIP, as well as he personally, condemns all forms of violence, asserting that violence has no place in a modern and civilised society. He said those responsible for the killing must be identified and brought to justice.

While condemning the attack, Sheikh Khursheed criticised the response of the administration, describing the incident as a "failure" of the Lieutenant Governor's administration and the BJP-led Central Government. He said that if the Government maintains that the security situation has significantly improved following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, it must explain how such incidents continue to occur.

The AIP leader also expressed concern over reports of large-scale detentions and the summoning of youth to police stations across Kashmir following the attack. He further questioned the blasting of houses linked to alleged militants, arguing that families should not be subjected to collective punishment for the alleged actions of an individual.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Referring to security measures taken after the Pahalgam attack, Sheikh Khursheed claimed that houses were blasted as a form of collective punishment. He argued that if such measures were an effective solution, then, in his view, the killing of Head Constable Ashiq Hussain should not have occurred. He maintained that such actions do not address the root causes of violence.

Sheikh Khursheed further said that, in his opinion, even the family of the slain policeman would derive little solace from what he described as collective punishment. Instead, he said, they would want those directly responsible for the killing, the perpetrators and those involved in planning it, to be identified, arrested and brought to justice through due process.

He said that while terrorism must be dealt with firmly, the response should remain within the framework of law and due process. He argued that actions affecting families and communities at large would neither strengthen public confidence nor provide a lasting solution to the security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir.

The MLA Langate reiterated AIP's opposition to violence in all its forms and appealed for measures that strengthen peace, justice and the rule of law while ensuring that those responsible for the killing of Head Constable Ashiq Hussain are brought to justice.(KNS)