Attack on Mobile Vendors, Towers a Temporary Phase, Action will be Taken Against Culprits: JK CM

SRINAGAR: Downplaying the series of attacks on telecom company outlets and installations in North Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Saturday termed these attacks as a “temporary phase” and said action will be taken against the culprits.

 “It is a temporary phase and not a permanent one,” Mufti told reporters on sidelines of inauguration ceremony of an International Buyer-Seller Meet at SKICC, here.

He was referring to recent militant attacks on telecom company outlets and installations in North Kashmir in which two persons were killed and two others injured.

Mufti said people of the State have witnessed tough times. “Now they want to see good times and return of peace. They want to earn their livelihood and want to live with dignity.”

Asked whether any action will be taken against the militants responsible for attack on telecom vendors and installations in Sopore and other parts of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, CM said, “Action will be taken against those responsible for these attacks”.

Militants have been targeting mobile vendors and mobile towers in Sopore and adjoining areas after their hit-tech communication equipment atop a mobile tower was seized. 

Stating that these attacks are “temporary phase”, Mufti cited the example of start of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.  “When the bus service was started, Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar was burnt in a militant attack. Later during one of our functions in the evening, power receiving station was burnt.”

“These kind of incidents won’t deter us from providing peaceful and conducive environment to people of the State,” he said adding “we will fight for it”.

After the series of attacks, fear psychosis has gripped people associated with telecom companies and having mobile towers in their compounds in North Kashmir. The mobile connectivity in sensitive Sopore town and its adjoining areas has been due to these threats and attacks. The mobile outlets have closed their shops and no mobile balance recharging is being done.

J&K Director General of Police (DGP) blamed militant group Hizbul Mujahideen for the attacks on mobile vendors and installations.

He said police is investigating the attacks and breakthrough will be achieved soon.

Sources said police have identified 150 mobile towers as “sensitive” in Sopore  and is mulling to provide security cover to some of these sensitive towers.

Little known militant group Lashkar-e-Islam has issued threat posters in Sopore and other parts of Baramulla and asked telecommunication companies to wind up their operations if their equipment was not returned.

Police believe that Lashkar-e-Islam is the brainchild of Hizbul.

The militant group has warned telecomm operators, tower land owners and mobile franchisees that if they don’t stop their work, they will be targeted.

Unnecessary media hype to raising of Pakistani flags

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said media is giving unnecessary hype to raising of Pakistani flags and chanting of pro-Pakistani slogans in the Valley,

“A handful of people are involved in such actions and action as per law will be taken against them,” he said adding flags were not an issue for people of Kashmir and they have other issues to which the government is quite responsive.

Pakistani flags were waved and pro-Pakistan slogans chanted during a rally of senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday. The supporters of Shah also burnt BJP flag during the rally.

Shah alongwith three of his supporters were arrested after police registered an FIR against them.

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