SRINAGAR: Asserting that state police has to play a positive role in reconciliation programme started by the Centre to resolve Kashmir issue, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said security forces should not act like ultras and ransack the houses of militants.
Reiterating that if a militant, even during encounters, wants to surrender, he should be given a chance to do so, Ms Mehbooba said she will reward the police personnel if a militant surrenders. “I will give you (police) twice the reward, if you make the militant surrender you were about to kill,” she said.
“There should be a huge different between a militant and a policeman. Militants attack our political workers, kill our policemen. They even ransack the houses of political workers and policemen. But, security forces including police, should not do that,” Ms Mehbooba said during Attestation-cum-Passing Out Parade of 13rth BRTC Batch at Police Training School, Manigam in central Kashmir.
She said militant wears commando uniform and tries to be like policemen, but you (police) operate within a set of rules and they have no rules. “You take up arms to protect people and they take up arms to destroy them. This difference has to be there,” she said.
The Chief Minister further said security forces were law enforcing agencies and should work in accordance with the law. “I should not receive even a single complaint that because we could not trace a militant or he escaped or he ransacked a house, security forces also ransacked someone’s house,” the Chief Minister warned.
Ms Mufti said if such a thing happens, the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by appointing an interlocutor to talk to stakeholders will be defeated.
“PM Modi not only appointed an interlocutor, he also gave him a Cabinet secretary rank. This has happened for the first time. Interlocutors have been appointed in the past as well, but never have they been accorded with such a high rank,” she said.
She said this was a clear indication that the PM, who was given mandate by majority of the people living in the country, wants that the people should come out of this turmoil.
”But, having said that, you (police) has to play a very important and positive role to create conducive atmosphere so that meaningful talks to resolve Kashmir issue could be held,” she added. (AGENCIES)
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