Youth must give up guns, says Mehbooba

Srinagar, February 18

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the youth should give up guns or they will face thousands of these from the security forces.

Addressing a public meeting on the sidelines of an official function in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, the Chief Minister said: "I have come to have a heart to heart talk with you today. I may or may not be in power tomorrow, but unless you persuade your children to give up guns, they will have to face thousands of guns of the security forces.

"Violence will get us nothing. If violence escalates in the Valley, there will be more security force camps and then it will take us hundreds of years to have those camps removed." Mehbooba Mufti said if her peace initiatives get enough support from the people, her government would push for opening up more and more routes across the Line of Control.

Together with Shopian, Anantnag and Pulwama districts, Kulgam has been a hotbed of militancy during the last three years.

This has pushed developmental projects and routine administrative initiatives to the backburner as the focus of the state and Central governments remains on bringing the ongoing militant violence and street protests under control. IANS