Omar questions separatists' silence over killing of child

Srinagar, July 24 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah Friday took a dig at separatists for their
silence over the killing of a three-year-old boy and his
father in Shopian in south Kashmir, terming their stand as a
"politics of hypocrisy".

"A stony silence was witnessed regarding yesterday's
unfortunate incident in Shopian where a man along with his
three-year-old child was killed," Omar said at a function
here.

Aslam Awam and his son were killed allegedly by militants
of Hizbul Mujahideen on Thursday.

Abdullah said in the prevailing atmosphere some elements
were resorting to "politics of hypocrisy" for vested interest.

"People with vested interest would have raised hue and
cry, had the incident been accidentally committed by security
forces. But they have preferred not to utter a word now," he
said in an apparent reference to separatists and mainstream
political party People's Democratic Party (PDP).

"Fairness and morality demand that these elements who
really believe in maintenance of Human Rights should have
raised voice as they are used to shout out on similar
situations," he said.

Observing that "a death is a death and murder a murder,"
the Chief Minister asked, "Why no calls of Shopian Chalo, Lal
Chowk Chalo have been made and no calendar of hartals have
been issued on this gruesome incident?"

Awam was fired upon indiscriminately by Hizbul militants
and his son, Arif, was in his lap when the incident took
place.

Hizbul Mujahideen militants were on a lookout for Aslam
and had made an attempt on his life on the intervening night
of April 14-15 also.

Though he managed to escape, the militants killed his
60-year-old mother Reshma.

"Every child of the state has a right to a dignified life
and change the destiny of the state for good. The people,
including the future generation, have every right to strive
for a better future.

"People are seeking an answer to the silence maintained
by these elements regarding the matter," Abdullah said. PTI
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