Mehbooba Mufti’s Passionate Appeal To Kashmiri Parents  

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday made a passionate appeal to Kashmiri parents, urging them to make sure children don't embrace death by joining militancy because "god brought all of us into this world to live a good life".

The appeal came a day after five civilians were killed in a widespread violence across the Kashmir Valley following the death of five Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a Kashmir University professor, in a shootout with security forces in a south Kashmir village.

"Yesterday's happenings are extremely sad. I appeal our people in the state and the rest of the country as also the government of India to save our children," Mehbooba Mufti told reporters on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the civil secretariat offices here.

"In most cases, both stones and guns are in the hands of children belonging to poor families," she said, apparently referring to Kashmir stone-pelters and security forces.

"A way out needs to be found so that our children, army soldiers and policemen are not killed.

"I appeal parents to ensure children do not embrace death as god brought all of us into this world to live a good life and not for embracing death at the age of 18 and 20."

The Chief Minister also made an appeal to the central government "to find a peaceful way out so that our children are saved".

IANS