DGP rules out large presence of IS in Kashmir

DGP Dilbag Singh addressing a press conference in Srinagar along with other senior police officers. —Excelsior/Shakeel
DGP Dilbag Singh addressing a press conference in Srinagar along with other senior police officers. —Excelsior/Shakeel

‘Youth being radicalized’

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 2: Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, today ruled out any large presence of Islamic State (IS) group in Kashmir, but claimed that the youth are being radicalized through its ideology.
Speaking at a news conference here at Police Control Room (PCR), Singh said: “In the past also, carrying those (IS) flags and displaying them publicly to show that there is a very large presence of such elements…we would again say that presence (of IS) is not that big but the fact that people are being radicalised on those lines that can’t be denied.”

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The DGP said that some elements were making serious efforts to radicalise a section of the youth to the extent possible. “Kashmir civil society has been as such an open society, a very secular kind of culture where we extend due respect to our places of worship. Such efforts had been made at various quarters and their expression has been seen in the kind of activities we saw other day (at Jamia Masjid),” he said.
Singh said that the youth being killed on the path of militancy is painful. He said that last year 252 militants were killed by the security forces in 97 operations in which 83 witnessed no collateral damage.
He, however, said that in rest of the operations some precious lives were lost.
He said that 91 civilians were killed last year while 44 among them were killed by militants and 38 lost their lives near encounter sites. “I once again appeal to the youth that life is very precious and it should not be lost like this. Police and other security forces have always exercised maximum restraint and now we will once again appeal them to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the situation”, he said. Forty five policemen, 9 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and 30 Army men were also killed in the year.
The DGP said it is always painful when the youth who have picked up arms are killed in operations. “The killing of youth who have picked up arms is not appreciable at all,” he said, adding that killing militants is a success but at the same times losing lives is painful and cannot be a thing to be celebrated.
“Lives of anyone; be militants, security forces personnel is very painful,” Singh said, hoping that the New Year (2019) will be better year and graph of violence comes down.
Commending police and other security forces for what he called as wonderful job, the Singh said that the number of violence related incidents increased last year as the youth recruitments and infiltration continued. He said infiltration increased last year while as large number of infiltration bids were also foiled.
On law and order situation, the DGP said the situation was by and large peaceful across the State in 2018.
The DGP when asked about the presence of nakas in Srinagar, said that they are well aware that the Nakas create inconvenience and cause congestion on roads but these measures are being taken for the security of people and it will continue till the situation gets better.
The said that they are trying to have female police representatives at the Police Stations for which the steps will be taken soon. “We will also like to have educated cops in the Police Stations,” he said, adding that he recently visited Kathua where 135 under graduates and 300 graduate constables are undergoing training.
About frequent internet snapping, DGP said that the social media is a big and uncontrolled tool which creates law and order situation many a times. “Thus the internet is being snapped to ensure peaceful environment”, he said.
ADGP Law and Order, Muneer Khan said that police has got vital clues about the weapon snatching from the residence of former legislator. He said that the investigation is underway and police has got some vital clues and they are working on that.
IGP Kashmir, S P Pani said that last year 12946 criminal cases were registered and 11880 were disposed off, taking the disposal rate to 61 per cent.
He said that in non-militancy related case, 97 murder cases were registered in the year 2018 while as 32 have been disposed of, adding that 312 cases were registered under Narcotic Act while 482 persons have been arrested in this regard and 222 cases have been placed for challan, taking the rate to 71 per cent.
Pani said that 143 domestic assault cases were registered in 2018 and 89 among them have been disposed off, adding that 762 burglary cases and 387 vehicle theft cases were registered in the previous year while as 342 and 148 cases respectively were disposed off, adding that in burglary cases 420 cases are still pending.
The IGP said that 35 eve teasing cases were registered in the year 2018 while as 30 among them have been challenged, thus taking the percentage of disposal rate to 86 percent. He said that 2006 road mishaps took place in the Valley in which 272 persons lost their lives, adding that 225 deaths have occurred because of four-wheelers, 46 deaths because of two wheelers while as one has occurred because of three wheeler.

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