KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
On the day, Indian army chief is in Kashmir, reports are doing rounds that the South Kashmir region may be “handed” over to them “for bringing peace on streets”.
“The overall goal is to reclaim state authority in rural areas of the state, which has been degraded,” reports said on Friday.
This is despite the contrary reports that army was not supportive of the idea, however, General Suhag met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi on last Wednesday and the duo discussed the prevailing situation in Kashmir. Singh had just returned to Delhi after heading an all-party delegation to Kashmir.
Today is 63rd consecutive day of Kashmir uprising and every other day, pro-freedom rallies are being held across Kashmir. The government imposed curfew today once again across Kashmir.
General Suhag is in town and is holding deliberations commanders based in J&K.
On August 19, Northern Commander of Indian Army, Gen D S Hooda, after meeting CM and Governor, in his brief presser had advocated talks with “all stake holders”.
“Everyone; be it Hurriyat Conference, traders, civil society and other sections of the society need to help in restoring normalcy in the state,” he said. “We all have to sit together and find a solution to the prevailing situation.”
At least 77 civilians have been killed while thousands have been injured since July 09, 2016 in mass protests.
But with no let-up in pro-freedom protests and rallies, there is a rethink apparently. The BJP led government has reportedly told J&K government not to allow mass rallies happen anywhere.
“The extra presence of the army is meant to ‘send a signal’ to protesters through ‘area domination’ and ‘enhanced patrolling’,” a news report said. “The aim is also to simultaneously step up patrols against insurgents.”
However, the reports said, “the army is absolutely clear that it is not equipped to deal with mobs and protests, since its soldiers carry automatic weapons and are trained to shoot to kill. Therefore, basic policing responsibilities will remain with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF who use non-lethal weaponry to control violent crowds.”
