Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leadership on Friday condemned the arson attacks in Jammu, saying it is the responsibility of the state administration to ensure safety of Kashmiris living there.
In a joint statement Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik said, “JRL strongly condemned the incidents of arson in Jammu in Gujjar Nagar and elsewhere incident where some communal elements freely torched the vehicles of Kashmiri Muslims and injured many others.”
“Right from 1947 (when subcontinent was divided), communal forces active in Jammu leave no stone unturned to attack and intimidate Muslims and Kashmiri people,” they said.
The leadership said it is responsibility of the administration to ensure safety and security of Muslims and Kashmiris living in Jammu.
At least 12 people were injured and dozens of vehicles torched in mob violence in Jammu after protests against the Pulwama attack turned violent.
The administration requested the Army to help maintaining law and order by conducting flag marches.
Curfew was imposed as authorities feared a communal backlash, officials said.
Trouble erupted when a group of people belonging to various right wing organisations including Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, and VHP took out a procession carrying tricolours through Gujjar Nagar, which is predominantly inhabited by Muslims, reported the Indian Express.
Earlier, Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference had appealed Rajnath Singh take ‘special care of areas where Kashmiris as residing or studying.’
In a tweet, he had said that ‘they (Kashmiris) are soft targets in a surcharged atmosphere.’
