Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that the rise in the kidnappings of police personnel and their families suggests that the New Delhi’s muscular policy has not worked in Jammu and Kashmir.

A hopeless Mufti said that dialogue, the only way forward seemed to be a distant dream for now.

Mufti’s comments come after three policemen were abducted by suspected militants in Shopian district of southern Kashmir and were later found dead in a village.

Mufti said that the killings will be condemned by all but that will not bring solace to the families of the victims.

Mehbooba Mufti, who was in office when her coalition partner BJP backed off from the coalition government, tweeted: “Three more policemen have lost their lives to militant bullets. Outrage, shock & condemnation will be expressed by all of us on expected lines. Unfortunately, it brings no solace to the families of the victims. Clearly, with the rise in kidnapping of police personnel and their families, Centre’s muscular policy is not working at all. Dialogue, the only way forward seems to be a distant dream for now. (SIC).”

Pertinently during Mehbooba’s tenure as chief minister, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed one of the worst periods in the recent history.

More than 100 civilians were killed alone during 2016 summer uprising and hundreds of other received pellet injuries in eyes. Several thousand others were injured. Kashmir remained under continuous curfew for over  50 days.

The Guardian termed the pellet injuries as the “world’s first mass blinding”.