People getting carried away by rumours a serious concern: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said it is worrisome that some people in the society get easily carried away by rumours and react violently, without even ascertaining the truth.

"This trend in the society is of serious concern," Omar said in his Independence Day message.

The Chief Minister termed this trend as dangerous and detrimental to the progress and welfare of the state.

"Heeding to rumours and resorting to violence results in the loss of precious human lives and property, besides disturbance in peace," he said.

Condemning loss of life and property in the clashes in Kishtwar and other parts of Jammu division, Omar sought to remind the people of pluralistic ethos of the state and said Jammu and Kashmir has been abode of different religions, faiths, cultures, languages and ethnic groups.

He said people have together nurtured communal harmony and brotherhood since ages.

Some elements, that thrive on dividing the society for vested interests in the name of religion, region and caste, attempt to create tension between different sections of the society, disturb peace and tranquillity and create mistress in the minds of people, he said.

"They do this just to polarise the society for their self ends," he added.

Omar also referred to the sectarian clashes in parts of Budgam, and the Gool incident saying that rumours and reactions without ascertaining the truth were the reason for escalation of tension in both the cases.

He said government will take all measures to ensure justice to the people.

The Chief appealed to the public to rise to the occasion and exhibit their highest faith in state's pluralistic character.

He said working together and strengthening bonds of amity between various sections is the right reply to those who want to wedge the society in the name of religion and other counts.

"You have to rise to the occasion and defeat the designs of these elements by showing your unity, and sidelining the elements responsible for creating tension between various sections of the society," he said.