Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Apr 14: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today directed Police to strictly follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) and use non-lethal methods of crowd control judiciously so that there is no loss of life.
Amid tension that prevailed across Kashmir valley following killing of four persons in North Kashmir during crowd control, Mehbooba held a security review meeting at her residence in Srinagar soon after her arrival from New Delhi.
Mehbooba, who arrived here from Delhi after a three-day visit, will be camping in Srinagar for the time being to personally monitor the situation arisen after the killing of four civilians in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district in security forces firing during a law and order problems.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar, Additional Director General Criminal Investigation Department (CID), S M Sahai, Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, SJM Gillani and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Asghar Samoon.
The Chief Minister directed the police top brass that SOPs should be strictly followed so that there is no loss of life while dealing with law and order problem in the State. She said that no laxity will be tolerated and stern action will be taken against any police official or personal found guilty.
Mehbooba directed that the non-lethal methods of crowd control should be used in such a way that there is no loss of life. She expressed serious concern over the use of tear smoke shells that cause death of people in protests. She also discussed the use of pellets that has over the years led to loss of eye sight of several youth in Kashmir.
The Chief Minister directed the Police top brass and Divisional Commissioner that the police and local administration should interact with the people so as to defuse tensions where ever it arises.
Mehbooba directed that the police and administration should interact with civil society in Handwara and other areas and defuse the tension as soon as possible.
The DGP and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir assured the Chief Minister that the directions will be passed on to the ground level immediately so that the situation is brought under control.
Soon after the meeting was over, the Director General of Police held a security review meeting at Police Control Room (PCR) in Srinagar this evening. The meeting was attended among others by ADGP, CID S M Sahai, IGP CRPF Atul Karwal, IGP CRPF Nalin Prabhat, IGP Kashmir SJM Jeelani, IGP IRP/Armed Sunil Kumar, IGP Traffic Shafqat Watali, DIG SSB RK Bumbla, DIG South Kashmir Nitish Kumar, DIG Central Kashmir, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar, SSP CID Ramesh Jala, SSP Budgam Fayaz Ahmad, SSP PCR Suhail Munawar and SO to IGP Showkat Sarwar.
The DGP directed the police and paramilitary force officers that the SOPs should be strictly followed while dealing with law and order situations across Kashmir. He also directed the Police officers that they should remain in touch with the people and defuse tension where ever it arises.
Rajendra told the police officials to make minimum use of force in dealing with the law and order problems.
A police spokesman said here that Director General of Police Rajendra Kumar chaired a high level security meeting at Srinagar.
The DGP directed that utmost restraint must be exercised while dealing with law and order situations and already laid down Standing Operative Procedures (SOPs) must be followed professionally and strictly so that there is no chance that these situations flare up.
Rajendra directed that all the forces led by the officers should work jointly with perfect synchronization in the formulation of strategies and then in implementing these strategies on ground.
While discussing challanges with regard to security in view of the tourist season and in view of the recent incidents in the State he enjoined upon the officers to handle the situations with utmost care and not to give any chance to the anti-national and anti-social elements to vitiate the normalcy.
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