Srinagar, Sept 7: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari has called for urgent and collective action to address what he described as a growing crisis of suicides, suspected suicides and mysterious deaths across Jammu and Kashmir.
In a post on X, Bukhari highlighted a series of recent incidents, saying that a body was recovered from the Jhelum River at Lethpora in Awantipora, while a boy and a girl reportedly jumped into a power canal in Ganderbal. He also referred to the recovery of a man found hanging in an apple orchard at Zainapora in Shopian.
Bukhari further mentioned the case of a young woman who reportedly jumped into the Chenab River in Doda a day earlier, saying the incidents could not be viewed as isolated occurrences.
“These are not isolated incidents,” Bukhari said, stressing that each such incident represents a human life lost and a family shattered.
The Apni Party chief linked the distress being experienced by sections of society to a combination of factors, including unemployment, poverty, inflation, drug abuse, social injustice, uncertainty and increasing pressure in everyday life. He particularly highlighted the uncertainty faced by young people regarding their future.
Calling for the issue to be addressed beyond political considerations, Bukhari urged political parties and stakeholders to rise above partisan interests and confront the situation collectively.
He called on the government to take the lead in bringing together mental-health professionals, sociologists, educators, civil society organisations, religious and community leaders, youth representatives and other stakeholders.
According to Bukhari, such a coordinated effort is necessary to identify the underlying causes behind these tragedies and formulate a comprehensive response.
“We cannot remain mere spectators while people around us continue to suffer,” he said, while calling for immediate action to address the crisis.
