Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday warned that properties of people providing shelter to militants or their associates will be attached under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Talking to Kashmir Observer SSP Srinagar Rakesh Balwal said that they have already started the process of attaching the immovable properties in the Srinagar city which have been used for purpose of “terrorism” as per section 2(g) & 25 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
He said over a dozen such houses have been identified in Soura, Downtown, Pantha Chowk, Soura, Batamaloo, Nowgam, Harwan etc.
He said the people need to inform the police forthwith if a militant comes to their house forcefully and asks for shelter, food etc.
Balwal said the houses that were identified by the police are those where encounters took place or the ones where militants took shelter.
When asked what if the shelter wasn’t voluntarily given by the people, he said “the families need to inform the police when the militants leave the house and if the information wasn’t given it will be considered a crime,”
Balwal further said that most of the houses that have been identified are those where the owners or other family members have provided the shelter to the militants voluntarily.
“We carried-out the exercise carefully and kept all this thing into consideration that any person who hasn’t voluntarily provided the shelter to the militants are exempted,” he said, adding that “at the same time, we haven’t left anyone who has committed this crime,”
Balwal added that they will carry out the exercise every year now.
Earlier in a tweet, the Srinagar police said “Don’t give shelter or harbour terrorists/ terror associates. Legal action will be supplemented by property attachments as per law,”
Process has started for attachment of some immovable properties which have been used for purpose of terrorism as per section 2(g) & 25 of ULP Act. Don't give shelter or harbour terrorists/ terror associates. Legal action will be supplemented by property attachments as per law.
— Srinagar Police (@SrinagarPolice) March 24, 2022
When asked whether the policy will be implemented in other districts of Kashmir, Balwal said “I can comment about my district only”
DGP Urges Youth To Shun ‘Path Of Violence’
Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir’s DGP Dilbagh Singh on Thursday said while the number of militants is decreasing in the Union Territory, violence will not end till youngsters possess guns and grenades.
He appealed to the youngsters who have joined militancy ranks to shun the path of violence and join the country’s mainstream.
“The number of terrorists is decreasing but till the time there are guns or grenades, violence will continue. A person carrying guns or grenades has the capacity to injure and kill people. Their number is decreasing every year, terror-related events are also decreasing, but killings still take place,” Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He said the killings by militants are condemnable and such acts need to be stopped.
“That is why preventive action is taken by us. Wherever there are OGWs (overground workers of terror outfits) or their support system, which helps them keep terrorism alive, we are taking action and such actions will continue,” the director general of police (DGP) said.
He said Jammu and Kashmir has seen violence and destruction for the last 30 years and thousands of lives have been lost.
“Youngsters, children, older people, women, security forces and police personnel have sacrificed their lives. There is a need to shun the path of violence and destruction and tread the path of peace,” Singh said.
He appealed to the youngsters who have joined militant ranks to shun the path of violence.
“I want to tell those who are still on the wrong path, who are being instigated by our neighbour and are carrying guns and pistols to kill innocent people, that this path is not right in any way, but will lead to destruction. Shun this path. There is a need to follow the path of development and prosperity,” the DGP said.
Asked about the steps being taken for the security of panchayat members, he said security measures have been initiated wherever there is a threat assessment by security forces.
“Whenever the need arises, the measures will be strengthened,” Singh said.
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