“Strict action should be taken against terrorists involved in Anantnag encounter”: Congress MP Rajeev Shukla
New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): Congress MP and Board of Control for Cricket in India vice president, Rajeev Shukla has asked for strict action against the terrorists involved in killing of three officers in an encounter in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.
An Indian Army Colonel commanding a Rashtriya Rifles Unit along with a Major and a Deputy Superintendent of Police were killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Kokernag area of Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday.
Rajeev Shukla told ANI “First of all, I strongly condemn this. We ask for strict action against the terrorists. In the past 20 years, all the governments have fought against terrorism. The financial state of Pakistan is very bad and despite that supporting terrorism is neither in their interest nor in the world’s interest. We salute the army and police fighting there and it’s very sad that three officers have lost their lives.”
The killed officers have been identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonak & DSP Humayun Bhat.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his grief over the death of the officers in the encounter.
“Paid tributes to JKP’s DySP Humayun Bhat, who laid down his life in an anti-terror operation in Anantnag. I salute the indomitable courage and supreme sacrifice of Col Manpreet Singh & Major Ashish Dhonack. Entire nation stands firmly with their families in this hour of grief,” LG’s office said in a post on the social media platform, X.
On being asked about India and Pakistan playing a Bilateral series with each other, BCCI vice president said “Talking about cricket, neither do we invite the Pakistan team here, nor do we go there. There’s a very clear policy, we are not playing any bilateral series with Pakistan.”
Earlier, BCCI President Roger Binny and Shukla travelled to Pakistan following an invitation to members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and other cricket boards by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to attend Asia Cup matches taking place in Lahore. They also met players from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka teams at a gala dinner there.
Shukla said that the visit was a good one and hospitality of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was good. The board had demanded the resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan, but it would be decided by the centre.
