SrinagarA day after the centre government announced sustained dialogue on Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said the state police has a vital role to play in reconciliation initiative taken by Government of India.
She said the prime minister had taken a huge step by not only appointing an interlocutor but also giving him the rank of a cabinet secretary, which had not happened so far.
Addressing a gathering at Police Training School Manigam in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district, Mehbooba said, Police should not attack the militants families as militants are attacking the policemens families.
Police has to maintain difference between militants and themselves, she said. We shouldnt do what the militants are doing. Police is there to ensure safety and security of people and their properties while as militants do the opposite.
We cant fight militancy by keeping common people at bay. We need to remain intact with people as well, Mehbooba said.
The chief minister told the police that she will double their reward if the police convinces local militants to surrender.
I have been saying it to you to make local militants surrender. I will double your reward if you convince local militants to surrender prior or during encounters.
She asserted that the police is facing tough challenges compared to police in other states.
In the current braid chopping incidents, police faced a lot of challenges. There were fewer incidents as compared to rumours over braid chopping incidents. Police has to deal these things in a professional way, she said.
On braid chopping incidents, Mehbooba said, We registered case in every incident but unfortunately people took law into their hands and thrashed innocents ruthlessly, which is also a challenge for police. Rumours are more than incidents as some people want to disturb peace here.
She also said that people are also not cooperating with police in braid chopping incidents. Whenever police asked the victims to give them blood samples to investigate, people refused. These challenges will continue and you (police) have to face it, she said.
She said that the government has built 3000 quarters in Kashmir and 2000 in Jammu.
You can stay in these quarters safely. These quarters were built keeping in view of attacks on policemen, she said, adding most of the main grievances and issues have been addressed by the government.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |