Some journalists have links with the militants: Farooq

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday unleashed a furious attack on the local media, terming recent media reports claiming that Al Faran killed the four foreign tourists it abducted nearly two years ago as mere 'conjecture.'

''There is no concrete evidence (about the hostages' fate). I will make the local press answer," a furious Dr Abdullah said, "I know some pressmen have links with militants and the All Party Hurriyat Conference."

Earlier, Nazir Ahmed Najar, a dreaded militant whom the Special Task Force arrested, had claimed that the hostages were buried in the upper reaches of Kokemag. "We combed the area, but nothing was found," the CM said.

He denied allegations that Minister of State for Home Ali Mohammad Sagar was 'abetting' militancy.

Srinagar-based journalists have taken exception to what they described as the chief minister's irresponsible utterances which they said was 'tantamount to browbeating and muzzling the voice of the press. "We have all long been giving fair coverage of the events and statements coming from different quarters,'' the scribes said.