‘Police Created Conducive Environment For NIA Raids’

Jammu—Jammu and Kashmir Police chief SP Vaid has said that there has been a 90 per cent drop in incidents of stone-pelting in the Kashmir valley this year as compared to the last year and credited the ranks in the police department for the improvement in the situation.

Raids by the National Investigation Agency or NIA, he said, were not the only reason for the change in situation in the state. “There were multiple factors at play including demonetisation and action against top commanders of terrorist organisations,” he said. “J&K police and security forces created a conducive situation here and only then NIA could carry out their raids. I don’t think such raids would have been possible in 2016.”

Vaid said NIA raids were not alone responsible for a drop in stone-pelting incidents. “Of course, that (NIA raids) helped, but the main credit goes to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, probably they have also realised the futility of this and damaging their own property and targeting police which also belongs to their own society besides the fatigue factor and action against top commanders”, he said.

The police chief said ‘there has been an improvement of the situation in the state due to demonetisation, arrest of terror supporters and increase in political activity’.

“The role of demonetisation and many other factors, including the administrative action against instigators and slapping cases against those who were involved in sabotage peace has also contributed to it,” he said. “I will also give credit to resumption of political activity. Slowly political activity has picked up and that also played its role.”

The Director General of Police said that it was normal to witness 40-50 incidents of stone-pelting in a day last year.

“(There is) a more than 90 per cent fall in stone pelting in Kashmir Valley (this year) as compared to the last year. It is a huge decrease”, Mr Vaid told news agency PTI in Jammu.

“There are weeks when there is not even a single case of stone pelting while in a day (last year) there used to be more than 50 incidents taking place. There is a huge change in the mood of people”, he said.

“It is a massive change. The law and order situation in the state is for everybody to see, particularly those living in the Kashmir valley.”

“Even on Friday, where it used to be normal to have 40-50 incidents of stone pelting in a day (last year), not even a single incident is taking place (this year)”, the DGP said.

Commenting on the restrictions set up by the police on Fridays around Jamia Masjid, he said separatists leaders were free to carry out their religious and peaceful activities. “There are no restrictions on our side in their religious activities,” said. “They can offer prayers whenever they want. We won’t restrict peaceful activities of the separatists. But when we have apprehension of violence, we put restriction for safety and security of people in the larger interest.”

Vaid said counselling sessions started by police for stone pelters and roping in their parents for support have been effective in curbing stone pelting. “We have tied up with National Council for Vocational Training and started enrolling stone pelters so that they take a right direction in their life,” he said. “Hundreds of youth involved in stone pelting have been released. Some 65 youth have also been brought back from militancy.”

Credited the security forces, DGP said: “Credit to the officers and jawans who are working in the fields. There is very good coordination among police, Army and other security agencies.”

“Most of the top leadership of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba has been neutralised except a few odd. It is a huge huge success. I think roughly 170 terrorists have been eliminated this year. This is record of last ten years…except 4 to 5 who are in hiding, rest of the commanders (of terrorist organisations) have been eliminated”, the DGP said. –inputs from PTI and KNS

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