SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Ministers of the Omar Abdullah-led J&K govt have fanned out to several states in the past two days, meeting chief ministers and other top authorities to coordinate assistance for Kashmiris who have alleged attacks and threats in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that targeted tourists.
“J&K government is in touch with governments of states where these reports (of attacks and threats) are originating from. I’m also in touch with my counterpart chief ministers in these states and have requested they take extra care,” Omar posted on X.
Officials said deputy CM Surinder Choudhary led the outreach, flying to Mumbai where he was slated to raise the matter with Maharashtra government.
Health minister Sakeena Itoo was on Saturday in Chandigarh, where she met Punjab governor and Chandigarh UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. She discussed the safety and security of students and business community from J&K. Itoo requested Kataria to take steps to instil a sense of security among J&K natives in the region. DGPs Gaurav Yadav of Punjab and Surendra Singh Yadav of Chandigarh were also present in the meeting.
Itoo later met a cross-section of J&K students studying in Punjab and held talks with chief secretary KAP Sinha to discuss the safety issues. Hundreds of Kashmiri students have enrolled in private colleges of Punjab.
Forest minister Javed Ahmed Rana travelled to Lucknow. A govt spokesman said Rana was there to reassure students and business community from J&K in Uttar Pradesh. Food minister Satish Sharma reached Dehradun, where he interacted with Kashmiri students, business community members and others from J&K.
In the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Kashmiri students outside J&K have been making distress calls home, alleging threats from “fringe elements” and seeking help. CM Omar has appealed to people all across the country “not to consider people of Kashmir their enemies”. Former CM and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti spoke to Union home minister Amit Shah, requesting his intervention.
Meanwhile, J&K Students Association alleged that several Kashmiri students were harassed and assaulted by “fringe elements” late Friday in Haryana’s Ambala. “We have brought it to the attention of Haryana chief minister’s (Nayab Singh Saini) adviser. We have received assurance at the highest level that Haryana govt is monitoring the situation and remains in touch with the affected students to provide all possible support,” the association said in a statement.