Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 30: Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, today said that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) that was attacked last week in the populated area in Pampore, South Kashmir exercised maximum restraint to prevent civilian casualties.
Singh made a statement in the Legislative Assembly today after opposition created uproar in the House yesterday and had demanded statement from the Government over the prevailing security situation in State. The Opposition’s demand came days after eight CRPF men were killed and 20 injured after militants ambushed their bus on Srinagar-Jammu Highway at Pampore.
Not satisfied with the statement, Opposition National Conference and Congress and CPI (M) MLA created ruckus in the Assembly
Singh read out the Government statement on security situation in the House. He said that CRPF men gave supreme sacrifice at Pampore, and maintained maximum restraint to prevent civilian casualties. “House should appreciate the CRPF for exercising restraint as the attack was carried in civilian populated area. Any retaliation from the CRPF would have caused civilian casualties,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also commended the members in the House for their concern over the killing of the CRPF personnel in the attack. He said the House should appreciate the supreme sacrifice of the CRPF personnel, who gave away their lives, but did not harm the civilians. “The CRPF jawans were coming back after practicing at a firing range. They had weapons with them, but if they had reacted to the attack in a way security forces retaliate, there were chances of civilian casualties,” he said.
Singh said the Government has already issued guidelines to the security force in the State to operate in way that civilian casualties are minimized. “We lost eight jawans and 22 others were injured. The attack took place in the market and many civilians were present in the area. They (CRPF) jawans sacrificed their life to save civilians,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that police and security forces have been put on high alert to prevent Pampore-like in future. He said that due to continuous pressure from security forces, militants are aiming at soft targets in crowded places to revive militancy in the State.
“It needs to be appreciated that security forces are showing professionalism while handling law and order situation, particularly incidents related to stone pelting at encounter sites”, he said.
Singh said due to robust Security Grid, there has been an increase of over 110 per cent in militant killings during 2016 in the State. He said there has been an increase of 48 per cent in militant arrest operations while civilian casualties have witnessed a dip of 11 per cent as compared to last year.
Not contended with the “issue-based” statement, Opposition accused the Government of “hoodwinking” the House on security situation. NC MLA from Khanyar, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that they had demanded statement on overall security situation in the State.
Devender Singh Rana said sanctity of the Speaker’s Chair has been disrespected by the Government. “Speaker’s chair had on Wednesday directed you to come up with a comprehensive statement on overall security situation in the State,” Rana said, adding, “This is a specific reply on a particular attack.”
However, Speaker Kavinder Gupta didn’t allow any discussion on the issue, following which the opposition staged a walkout.
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