Srinagar, July 23: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said terrorism cannot be defeated through bulldozer action or mass arrests alone, asserting that lasting peace in the Union Territory can only be achieved with the support of the people and positive change from within society.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said security forces can tackle terrorism to a certain extent, but its complete eradication requires collective efforts from society to counter violence and extremism.
“We will not improve the situation by demolishing houses or arresting thousands of people. The situation will only get worse. Terrorism cannot end without the support of the people,” he said.
Referring to the recent Anantnag terror attack in which Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was martyred, the Chief Minister said the police’s anger over the killing was understandable, but cautioned that demolishing houses and carrying out mass arrests could alienate the public and weaken efforts to restore peace.
Commenting on the demolition of houses belonging to alleged militants in Anantnag, Omar said such actions go against the spirit of the Supreme Court’s directions. He recalled that similar demolition drives were halted after the Pahalgam attack when investigations revealed that the attackers had come from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
