New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam on March 25 expressed grief and anguish over the killing of 24 Kashmiri Pundits at a Pulwama village on March 24 and said this was yet another attempt to create hurdles in the process of normalisation and rehabilitation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Stating that he was "deeply pained and anguished" over the killings, he said in a message, "No cause, no religion, no ideology, no grievance - imaginary or real - justifies such heinous act."

"This is another attempt by militants to create hurdles in the process of normalisation and rehabilitation in the state. I call upon my fellow citizens to face this challenge with strength, determination and resolve," a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman quoted him as saying.

PTI