KL Report
SRINAGAR
Director General Police Ashok Prasad Sunday revealed that security review of political leaders ahead of 2014 elections was on.
Talking to local News Agency, KNS he said, “As political activities are on rise with elections scheduled next year, the security review for the political leaders is a must. It is our duty to protect them.”
“For the purpose we need more manpower and for that we will talk to the central government on the issue. We have already sent a proposal for raising five Indian Reserve Police (IRP) force companies to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The proposal has been considered by the MHA,” he said.
On rising incidents of militancy, the DGP said, “We have inputs that militants may target the police to provoke it. But we will ensure that we provide full protection to the people.”
The DGP claimed that police have full support of public. “We never put people to any inconvenience. Our effort is to ensure that no collateral damage happens during the encounters with militants. Recently a traffic cop was killed in Pulwama by the militants. It generated huge wave of public sympathy towards the police. Policemen are from this society only,” he added.
The DGP said that police have inputs that militants were desperate to infiltrate. “They (militants) have made several attempts in the last few weeks but they failed. At several places on LoC militants want to take advantage of melting snow.”
Prasad put the total number of active militants in Kashmir at around 180. “The surge in militant attacks has nothing to do with 2014 elections or Amarnath yatra. Militants want to show their presence,” he claimed.
Asked why police was putting restrictions on the movement of separatist leaders, Prasad said that they stop them only when there is apprehension of law and order problem. “But we never stop them from moving anywhere. They visit Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi we never stop them from that. I ask them (separatists) can they stop their followers from resorting to violence,” he added.
On use of deadly pepper gas and pellet guns by the police, the DGP said, “We never want to use it. In the last 20 days we have not used it. But sometimes in extreme conditions we use it. I question civil society groups who criticize police for pepper gas and pellets, whether stone pelting is justified. They should also move to the court against the stone pelting.”
The DGP said that democracy has taken strong roots in Jammu and Kashmir and people have full faith on democracy. “Whatever decision people take will be final. Now people know what is right and wrong and they are the best judges,” he added.
