Srinagar, July 22: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Sunday asked militants to stop killing innocent people, including security personnel, and instead rise against “those who have looted the wealth of Kashmir for years”.
“These boys who have picked up guns are killing their own people, they are killing PSOs (personal security officer) and SPOs (special police officers). Why are you killing them? Kill those who have looted the wealth of Kashmir. Have you killed any of them?” Malik said while speaking at the inauguration of Kargil Ladakh Tourism Festival-2019 at Kargil.
The Governor explained guns have never been the solution to problems. “There was an outfit called LTTE in Sri Lanka and it had support as well but it has also been finished,” he said.
Malik also said that the militants do not have the power to erode the authority of the Indian government. “Yours is a futile struggle. You are losing your lives for nothing,” he added.
“Our estimates are that at present there are 250 militants including 125 foreign militants. During encounters, the foreign militant takes two days to die and the local two hours.”
Noting that the militants’ Deobandi preachers were promising them heaven after death the Governor said: “I cannot question your religious belief. But, I can give you two heavens instead of the one promised to you by your ‘maulvis’. I can give you Kashmir, which is a heaven on earth, and if you live like good human beings, you will get another heaven after your death.”
He expressed satisfaction over the change in the ground situation in Kashmir, saying that the people are now talking of peace.
“It is for the first time in 30 years that there was no strike on the visit of the country’s Home Minister to Kashmir,” Malik said referring to the recent visit of Amit Shah to the Valley. IANS/PTI
