Militants may strike during interlocutor’s visit: CRPF
Srinagar: Security forces across Kashmir valley have been put on alert to meet any eventuality as militants might step up violence in view of the maiden visit of the Centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma to the valley.
“Situation right now in Kashmir is under control but we are alert in view of inputs that militants might step up their activities, following visit of the Centre’s appointed interlocutor to the valley”, Inspector General of CRPF Ravideep Sahai told reporters here today.
Asked will there be disruption during interlocutor’s visit, he said “There is an input. May be a grenade throwing. May be hit and run attack. There is indication that they may step up violence.”
He said the militants may step up their activities as it has been observed that whenever government takes steps for restoration of peace, they (militants) resort to violence. “
In answer to a specific question about any input regarding presence of militants in Srinagar, Sahai said “As per information available with us, they do sometime come to city. They don’t have a permanent base in Srinagar but of course there is presence in outskirts. And on these inputs we carried out some operations. Many commanders have been neutralized”, he added.
Sahai while terming unabated stone pelting at the encounter sites a cause of concern said the situation on the pretext of stone pelting in the current year has reduced to a large extent, particularly after April. In March and April, there was heavy stone pelting but then it slowed down gradually. “By and large, the spontaneous stone-pelting in city from law and order point has reduced to a large extent.”
Giving reasons in support of his claim, he said “the reason for reduction is that there is no positive result of stone pelting and this thing people understand. Apart from the adverse impact it has on the image of Kashmiri people outside and on economy. So these things common people have understood. So this is one reason. Besides this, the operations were also carried out and also National Investigation Agency (NIA) operations could be the reason. There are multiple reasons, not one or two.” (Kashmir Wire)
KV Correspondent
