Security forces will get free hand to deal with anti-India forces in Valley
Threat of bullets or stone-pelting will not be allowed to dictate situation in Kashmir and security forces would get free hand to deal with anti-India forces, top sources in the Government said on Sunday.
Kashmir has been on the boil for some time with frequent encounters between security forces and terrorists. The stone-pelters are back on the streets, trying to provide shield to terrorists and attempting to sabotage anti-terror operations in the Valley. This has, on many occasions, led to collateral damage leading to “civilian protest”.
It is understood that the Government has instructed security forces to deal with stone-pelters sternly. “How can stone-pelters or those engaging in violence be described as civiliansIJ” they asked. “Gun and violence would not be able to dictate terms in Kashmir. It would be effectively countered”, they added.
In less than a year after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed, security forces shot dead his successor Sabzar Bhat and another terrorist on Saturday, underlining the Modi dispensation’s aggressive approach to stem ‘the new indigenous militancy’ in the Valley.
Earlier this month, a 22-year-old officer with the Rajputana Rifles of the Indian Army, lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, was kidnapped from his hometown in Jammu & Kashmir and shot dead by terrorists. A farmer’s son, lieutenant Fayaz was from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district and was in his hometown to attend his cousin’s wedding.
The dominant view is that Kashmir situation should not be judged on the basis of what has happened in last two to three months. It was pointed out that the Valley has seen much worse phases in the past.
“The Government and the ruling BJP is taking the Kashmir issue seriously” and working to resolve it in subtle manner. The situation would be under control soon,” sources maintained.
Though officials are not ready to comment on the possibility of imposition of Governor’s Rule in the State, there is speculation that if things don’t improve on the ground, the Centre may go to any extent.
Commenting on the situation in the State, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said on Suunday the Indian Army is facing a “dirty war” in Jammu & Kashmir, which has to be fought through “innovative” ways. He defended use of a Kashmiri protester as a ‘human shield’ by a young officer.
Rawat told news agency PTI that the main objective of awarding Major leetul Gogoi, when a Court of Enquiry was finalising its probe into the incident, was to boost the morale of young officers of the force who are operating in a very difficult environment in the militancy-infested State.
“This is a proxy war and proxy war is a dirty war. It is played in a dirty way. The rules of engagements are there when the adversary comes face-to-face and fights with you. It is a dirty war... That is where innovation comes in. You fight a dirty war with innovations,” Rawat told the news agency.
Reflecting BJP’s “tough stand” on Kashmir, party president Amit Shah had last week supported Army’s approach in dealing with terrorists and stone pelters in the Valley. On criticism of Army’s action by a section of people, he had said on May 26 (marking three-years of BJP’s governance at the Centre), that no one should show disrespect to the Army “that safeguards and preserves our freedom”. On Major Gogoi triggering controversy for using a Kashmiri man as ‘human shield, Shah said his action ensured safety of Election Commission officials and security personnel.
As the Valley recently witnessed Pakistan bids to infiltrate terrorists and instigate violence in the Valley, the alleged link of hardliner separatist Hurriyat faction with terror outfit lashker-e-Tayyeba has come under scanner of National Investigating Agency (NIA). NIA is probing the role of leT chief Hafeez Mohammed Saeed and separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in subversive activities in Jammu & Kashmir.