J&K DGP: Youth should avoid encounter sites

Recently, the Indian Army has had to grapple with local protesters who try and help terrorists escape during encounters and counter-insurgency operations.

Especially in South Kashmir, with every counter-insurgency operation, the locals have increasingly become more emboldened to hinder anti-militancy operations.

This often leads to a law and order problem for security establishment and the deaths of many locals.

An encounter in Bandipora left 3 army men and 1 terrorist dead, while the operation that took place in Handiwara left 3 terrorists and 1 Army Major dead.

The locals began protesting after the encounters and were dispersed using tear gas.

PM Modi tweeted saying: "Paid tributes to the brave men who lost their lives fighting terrorists in J&K."

While paying tribute to the martyred soldiers in Delhi, Army Chief Bipin Rawat came out strongly against those backing insurgents during counter-insurgency operations.

He said that those who hinder army's operations during confrontations and weren't supportive would be interpreted as "overground workers of terrorists".

He said that those displaying ISIS and Pakistan flags too would be treated as anti-nationals.

Despite a stern warning by Army Chief Bipin Rawat, several youth pelted stones at security forces while they were conducting search operations for militants in Pulwama district.

People apparently pelted stones at forces from their roof tops, while search operations were underway in the Urivan-Newa area.

Police managed to disperse the crowds and finish the search operations peacefully.

A review committee has recommended changes in the army's operating policy in Kashmir, to adapt to the menace of stone pelting civilians.

It involves setting up a mobile joint control room to coordinate between all forces, imposition of prohibitory orders, identification of collaborators, and initiation of legal action against them.

Since 2016, over 25 terrorists have fled encounter sites with the help of stone-pelters.

Sources stated that stone-pelting civilians in Kashmir have turned a deaf ear to the army's warnings of "tough action" and "relentless operations, with harsher measures."

In Nazneenpora village of Pulwama district, civilians resorted to heavy stone-pelting when armed forces were conducting search operations for terrorists in the area.

Nonetheless, the army blew up the house that the terrorists were allegedly hiding in.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid stated that youth should not come to encounter sites and protest. He made the statement in light of the recent death of 3 civilians who were pelting stones at security forces at an encounter site in Budgam district.

He said "Youths coming to an encounter site are committing suicide."