The Indian Army on Friday called for efforts to bring normalcy in Kashmir Valley and urged even those joining hands with the separatists to find a solution to the “difficult situation”. The Army has been assisting the police and paramilitaries to ensure law and order, hampered for the past six weeks after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani that triggered protests in Kashmir.
Addressing a Press conference at XV Corps headquarters, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command, lt-Gen DS Hooda underscored need to sit together to find a solution to the “cycle of conflict and violence”. He said the situation has not left anyone unhurt and there was need to sit down “put our heads together and find an end to this. I know it is not going to be easy. The situation is difficult”.
Asked whether he suggested involving the separatists in talks, he said it was not for the military to suggest. “These are things that happen at some other level. But yes, I am saying everyone has to come together. This is also in some way encouraging what is happening on the streets,” he said.
“It (beating college lecturer to death) is unjustified. Nobody can support this. There is absolutely no sanction for this. let me put it very clearly,” he said. “We have ordered an enquiry,” he said.
“The instructions are there to exercise restraint. Instructions are there to avoid use of excessive force. It is like feeding the frenzy of violence again,” he said and refused to call the troops involved in the Sharshali incident as “rogue elements”. He said encouraging and motivating people to attack police parties and bases is another element to the situation.
Hooda, who earlier met Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said he discussed the prevailing situation in the meetings. “Everybody understands the situation is not okay. Some sense of calm needs to be restored,” he said.
The Army Commander said that a decision has been taken to send the Army for area domination marches to ensure daytime movement along the highways. “This will bring a sense of normalcy. We have been told that teachers do not go to schools. Government employees are not able to attend office. There is no movement by the day. We are ensuring this movement,” he said and added that the Army would deal with the situation if protesters confront the troops.
He said the Army is concerned with the ground level situation and not with what is happening at the diplomatic level. “Borders continue to remain secure even during this internal problem. We have not pulled out a single soldier from borders. There has not been any increase in troops either,” he said.
He said the counter-insurgency operations would be intensified in south Kashmir, which were hampered by the current situation. “A deliberate and considered decision has been taken, where there are terrorists, we will go after them,” he said. “That is going to start in real earnest. It is not it was stopped totally,” he said.