Omar Abdullah first J&K chief minister to visit separatist’s family

Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah in a rare gesture on Saturday visited the residence of slain separatist leader and Jamait Ahle Hadees chief Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah to express his condolences.

Omar flew from Jammu and met Shah’s sons and brothers to convey his grief. “I am deeply pained over the killing of a noble person and a religious scholar of high echelon,” Omar told the family. “We condemn the cowardice and barbaric act. The killing of Maulana Showkat is a great loss to the society and those responsible for it have displayed their dastardly attitude towards humanity,” he said.

Omar is the first incumbent chief minister to have visited the residence of a separatist leader, slain by the militants in the last 20 years of turmoil.