KL Desk

Srinagar

In an effort to avoid the casualties while dealing with protesters and stone pelters, authorities in valley have issued an advisory to forces especially the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), asking them not to not use firearms while dealing with law and order situations.

“The step was taken in wake of the firing incident at Watergam, Baramullah. Authorities don’t want to take any risk as far as controlling the situation is concerned. All forces have been asked to refrain from using lethal weapons / firearms while dealing with people”,  sources told KNS.

Pertinently, during the 2010 unrest, the authorities had been unable to break a cycle of violence resulting out of deaths of protestors after lethal weapons were used to quell protestors and stone pelters.

When contacted, Inspector General of Police S.M Sahai refused to comment on the matter saying, “It is an internal matter and cannot be discussed (with media)”. However, he said that forces remain directed not to use firearms during maintenance of law and order problems, as part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

CRPF Spokesperson Sudheer Kumar was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

Pertinently, police has already registered a case against forces on Tuesday who were allegedly involved in firing upon protestors at Watergam. One of the protestors had later died at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences here.

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