If collateral loss feared, don’t carry out ops, CM tells forces
Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has asked government forces to avoid any harassment of families of militants, sources privy to the unified headquarters meeting held in Srinagar on Tuesday told Kashmir Reader.
According to a senior official, who attended the meeting, “Security agencies were directed to ensure that no harassment is meted out to the families of militants.”
The official said that Mehbooba directed the security agencies to take parents of “agitating” youth into confidence, as and when there is a complaint about a youth. Mufti also said that the family of the youth should in no way be held accountable for the actions of the youth.
The high profile meeting was held at Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC). The meeting was attended by top officials of the army, intelligence, police, and others.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Chief Secretary BR Sharma, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, BB Vyas, Principal Secretary Home RK Goyal, Director General of Police Shesh Pal Vaid, GoC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen Devraj Anbu, Corps Commanders of various army formations in the state, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, senior officers of CRPF, BSF and J&K Police attended the meeting.
The forces discussed the recent breakout of student protests and during the meeting, they were directed by the chief minister that maximum restraint should be followed against civilian protesters and collateral damage avoided.
On the recent attack on a nomad family by cow vigilantes in Jammu’s Reasi district, the chief minister said that the perpetrators should be brought to justice.
During the meeting, top security officials briefed the CM on the security situation in the Valley. “The officials also discussed the security provided to political activists,” an official told Reader.
The chief minister made suggestions to the forces to reach out at the grassroots level to Kashmiri youth, to enable a change in the situation. “She said that youth have unfortunately been caught in a cycle of misinformation and violence. She said they have to be won over with a healing touch,” an official spokesperson said.
After a spree of civilian killings in the past three weeks, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asked the top security forces officers to prevent collateral damage and strictly follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) while dealing with any situation.“If there are apprehensions of collateral damage during an anti-militancy operation then it should not be carried out,” she said. Mehbooba issued the directions while chairing a crucial Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting to discuss the security situation in the region. The UHQ is the topmost security grid of the Army, Central Armed Police Forces, J&K Police and the Central and state intelligence agencies to synergise the anti-militancy operations in the state.The top security officers, during the meeting, were of the view that stone-throwing was a greater challenge in the present situation, sources said.The CM asked the security agencies to behave more humanely with the locals and work in coordination with the J&K Police, the sources said.“The collateral damage should be prevented at any cost during encounters or law and order situations. The SOP should be followed strictly while handling with situations,” Mehbooba told the officers, according to sources.At least 13 youths have been killed in security forces action since March 28, triggering a series of protests in the Valley.Schools and colleges across Kashmir were shut by the government last week after recurring student protests against police action on students of Government Degree College, Pulwama, on April 15. About 50 students of Pulwama college were injured on that day.Mehbooba also asked the top security officers that efforts should be made to bring the local militants back into the mainstream. She asked the officers to ensure a cordial atmosphere so that development projects takes place.“Last year, we suffered a lot on the development front. This year, we should ensure a cordial atmosphere,” she said.Referring to the recent attack on Gujjars in Reasi district, the Chief Minister said they should not be harassed. “The law should strictly be enforced there,” she said, while referring to an attack on a nomad family by cow vigilantes in Reasi.An official spokesman later said that the CM directed the security agencies to ensure that the inter-community harmony and amity among various sections of society was maintained at all costs.“The culprits must be brought to justice if found spreading hatred against a section of society or in the name of a social cause. And, if need be, strict provisions of law be slapped on such hate-mongers who are found taking law into their own hands,” the spokesman said.