In his first visit to Shopian after two women were raped and murdered in the town, resulting in the first major crisis his coalition government, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said his Government will try and get capital punishment for the culprits.

“Capital punishment is not in vogue in our state, but I will ensure that the guilty get the death penalty,” Omar said at the public rally in Karewa Manloo, two kilometres ahead of Shopian. “I will leave no stone unturned in unearthing the facts and punishing those behind the double murder,” he said.

In his half-hour address, Omar said he has come to Shopian to heal the wounds of the people. “From Day 1, I have tried my best to unearth the facts and book the murderers. The incident happened on a Saturday. On Monday, I constituted the Justice Jan Commission to probe the issue,” Omar said.

The Chief Minister said his government even announced an award of Rs 20 lakh for anyone who provides vital clues leading to the arrest of the culprits. “I appeal to the people of Shopian to come forward and help the government in identifying the culprits so that they can be given exemplary punishment,” he said. “My government is ready to rope in the CBI or any other powerful agency to probe the incident,” he added.