Senior member Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) and chairman Islamic Political Party-JK Muhammad Yousuf Naqash has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of human lives in landmine blast in Rajouri district.In a press release issued on Sunday, Naqash said all the three labourers were innocent victims of landmine blast. “I express my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families and their kith and kins."He said that anti-personnel landmines are prohibited under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (or Ottawa Treaty), adopted in 1997.“More than 150 countries have joined this treaty including India but unfortunately the proliferation these landmines pose a serious threat to entire population of Jammu and Kashmir and thus remains a source of concern,” he said.
Naqash added, “Hundreds of causalities have occurred due to landmines installed in entire Jammu and Kashmir by Indian occupational forces which have left hundreds physically impaired.”“170 people have died and 150 have been disabled at Tosa Maidan which is also called The Meadow of Death in Budgam district firing range due to these unexploded shells,” Naqash added.Terming the continuous killings due to landmines a serious issue, IPP-JK chairman has demanded immediate removal of all the landmines installed in entire Jammu and Kashmir “to stop innocent killings and other serious injuries caused with these landmines.”Muhammad Yousuf Naqash also expressed condolence with the bereaved families of fresh landslide victims of Doda district which resulted in death of two persons and in Baramulla district which also claimed two lives.