Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday advocated stringent punishment for all those involved in the“white collar” terror module and Delhi blast case, but urged that innocent civilians should not be harmed.

“I raised the issue yesterday at the North Zone Chief Minister's conference as well. Union Home Minister was there, Union Home Secretary, CMs of north zone, governors, LGs, were there. I appealed to them to not see every citizen of J-K, especially every Kashmiri Muslim, with suspicion,” he told reporters after visiting a hospital here to inquire about those injured in the accidental blast in the Nowgam police station on Friday.

Abduallah had last week stated that those behind the Delhi blast should be given the strictest punishment, but emphasised that the entire population of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be branded as sympathisers of terrorism.

A blast in an explosives-laden car, which was being driven by Dr Umar Nabi, who hailed from south Kashmir's Pulwama, near the Red Fort in Delhi killed 15 people and injured several others on November 10.

The chief minister also visited the families of those who lost their loved ones in the accidental explosion and assured every possible support from the government in this hour of grief.

Abdullah said while those involved in the module, especially in the Delhi blast, be arrested and given stringent punishment,“innocent people, who have no connection with it and have always raised their voice against violence, should not be brought into this ambit”.

The chief minister expressed hope that the Centre will pay heed to what he said.

Referring to the Nowgam blast, the CM said it is unfortunate that many people lost their precious lives and several others were injured.

“The investigations are on to ascertain the cause and why it happened. I hope people will get answers, because it should not happen. Such a huge quantity of explosives was brought here, in which conditions was it transported and stored, and how was it being dealt with, we will gradually get answers to all these questions, but I express my sympathies and condolences to all those families who lost their kin,” he said.

Abdullah said he is grateful to the hospital for reaching out to the injured immediately after the blast.

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