SRINAGAR: After inflicting heavy casualties on militants in three encounters in south Kashmir, top security force officials on Sunday said anti-militancy operations would continue in Valley and again asked the local militants to surrender.
“I will like to make it clear that our operations against militants will not stop,” IG CRPF Zulfiqar Hassan told reporters while addressing a joint press conference with GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen A K Bhatt and Director General of Police (DGP) Shesh Paul Vaid.
At least 11 militants, three army men and two civilians were killed in three security operations in south Kashmir today.
Referring to people marching to encounter sites, IG said some people under the influence of anti-national elements go near the encounter sites and try to disturb the operations.
“We will tackle the crowd with restraint but won’t shy away from taking very strict action,” IG CRPF said.
He said people should stay away from the encounter sites as there is every likelihood them being being hit by bullets. “At encounter site, anybody can get killed or hurt.”
On clashes near encounter sites, IG CRPF said, “We have seen the trend of stone pelting and law and order situation at encounter sites in Shopian. Our appeal to everyone is not to come to encounter sites.”
In all the three encounters in south Kashmir, people, mostly youth, attempted to march towards the encounter sites and pelted stones on the security force personnel in order to pave way for militants to escape.
GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen A K Bhatt appealed young people of Kashmir not to get carried away by Pakistan or their proxies to the path of violence.
He warned that anybody who takes up gun and resorts to violence would be eliminated in operations as was the case today.
DGP Vaid appealed the local militants to surrender saying, “It is painful to all us of to see the loss of young lives.”
“I appeal the parents of boys, who have taken the wrong path, that they should convince their wards to leave path of violence and come home,” he said.
The security officials have in the past also appealed the local militants to give up violence and join mainstream and return to their homes.
The CRPF has also set up a helpline “Madadgar” to facilitate surrender of the local militants.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has expressed grief over the death of two civilians during security operations in south Kashmir.
She has also sympathised with those injured during these operations.
Mehbooba also paid tributes to three army men killed during these operations and conveyed her sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls.