SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said paramilitary forces would be sent to barracks after situation improves in Kashmir, which has been witnessing unrest and turmoil since killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
“The deployment of paramilitary forces in the Valley was a compulsion,” Mehbooba said on sidelines of a function, here.
She said the paramilitary personals were deployed in Valley in view of vandalism by miscreants as they target vehicles.
“As the situation in Kashmir improves, the role of security forces will decrease and they will return to the barracks,” Mehbooba said.
The Mehbooba government in the State had brought additional companies of paramilitary CRPF and SSB to Kashmir to maintain law and order in view of near daily protests after the killing of Burhan.
Mehbooba also urged parents of youth to help the government in restoring peace and normalcy in the Valley so that people can earn their livelihood and earn a decent living and future of children is safeguarded.
The life in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley remained crippled for the 101st day today due to the separatists-sponsored shutdown. The separatists have extended the shutdown till October 20.
Two Sumo vehicles set ablaze
A group of marked youth set on fire two Sumo passenger vehicles bearing No JK05B-5863 and JK09-9209 near fruit Mandi, Parimpora in outskirts of Srinagar this morning to “enforce” the shutdown.
The masked youth, according to sources, thrashed the drivers and asked the passengers to alight from the vehicles before setting them on fire.
After the incident, police and paramilitary personnel conducted raids in the area. The locals said police detained much youth during the raids.
A police spokesman said police have registered a case and started the investigation.
“Six miscreants involved in the incident have been identified and a manhunt launched to arrest them,” he said.
Massive crackdown in Baramulla
Police, paramilitary forces, and army men launched a massive crackdown in Baramulla town in North Kashmir early this morning to crack the whip on protestors.
The locals said the security personnel sealed the entire Baramulla town at 2 am and sealed the bridges to restrict the public movement.
They said the security personnel conducted house to house searches. “During the searches, they were checking the injury marks, if any, of the inmates to identify the stone pelters and protestors.”
In the 12-hour long operation, security forces picked up 35 people for questioning.
According to locals, it was the major crackdown of security forces in Baramulla town in last decade.
More than 7000 people including separatists leaders and youth have been arrested across Kashmir in last three months by police to end the three-month long unrest.
At least 91 people including two policemen have been killed and over 13000 injured in the security forces action on protestors during protests in last 101 days of unrest and shutdown in Valley.
Opposition NC demands release of separatist leaders
The opposition National Conference demanded a release of all separatist leaders as a first step towards the initiation of a sincere and meaningful dialogue process.
“There have been some reports about health concerns for some Hurriyat leaders and numerous other detainees and it is the responsibility of the State Government to ensure proper and regular medical checkups and their release which would pave way for a credible engagement. Any laxity in this regard could have serious consequences in a situation which continues to be extremely sensitive”, said NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, former J&K Assembly Speaker Assembly Mubarak Gul and former Minister Mian Altaf Ahmed in a joint statement.
They urged both the Central and the State Government not to waste further time and initiate a dialogue both internally and externally to find a lasting solution to the political issue of Kashmir.