Bengaluru

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack in Kulgam district and said no amount of compensation could undo the damage suffered by families of those who had come there to earn an honest livelihood.

According to officials, Deepak Ratray and Bopinder, both in their 20s, were killed when terrorists attacked a brick kiln in the Kelam area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district late on Friday evening.

Speaking to reporters here after attending an event, he said, "They had come to Kashmir to work. People from outside the state had come here to earn an honest livelihood. Those innocent people were targeted in such a manner. The attack cannot be condemned enough."

He added that no amount of money could undo the impact of the attack or ease the pain and suffering of their families.

"However, this is a small effort from our side to extend some assistance to them during this difficult time," he added.

Abdullah announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the two migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh who were killed in the terror attack.

The amount is in addition to the immediate assistance of Rs 6 lakh each announced by the district administration.

Responding to a question regarding the protest led by him at Jantar Mantar seeking the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the movement would continue until the demand was fulfilled.

He said the demonstration at Jantar Mantar was only the beginning and acknowledged that statehood would not be restored through a one-day protest.

"We know that we are not going to get statehood just by coming to Jantar Mantar for one day. Thousands of students came, and they had to protest for 25 days...(to get their demands met). We too will have to continue this process," he said.

The CM said the protests would continue in different forms, with some programmes being held in Jammu and Kashmir and others in Delhi.

He said the demand for the restoration of statehood was based on commitments made by the government.

"We are not saying anything for which a promise was not made to us. It was repeatedly said in the Supreme Court and inside the House that Jammu and Kashmir's statehood would be restored. We are only reminding the Central Government to fulfil its promise," Abdullah said.

On the government's assurance that no action would be taken against students involved in the recent protests over the NEET question paper leak, Abdullah said a commitment made by the government should be honoured.

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"If a promise has been made, then it should be kept. Similarly, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were promised that they would get statehood," he added.