SRINAGAR: Asserting that there is a decline in stone pelting incidents in Kashmir due to different approach adopted by security forces while dealing with protests, a top CRPF officer said realisation among people that it would not yield any results has also helped.
However, Inspector General of CRPF Ravideep Singh Shahi said, ”stone pelting near encounter sites is a cause of concern.”
He also expressed concern about increase in the number of youth joining militant ranks.
“We have trained our jawans and officers about how to deal with protests. They have also been asked to use maximum restrain while dealing with law and order problems. This has resulted in decline in further stone pelting incidents in the Valley in the last about four-five months,” he said here on Monday.
He added that one more factor which has played vital role in declining stone pelting incidents is the realisation among the people that such actions will not lead to any conclusions.
If action by NIA has played any role in the decline in stone pelting in the Valley, he said it has also played its part.
But, the IG CRPF said they are concerned about the rise in the number of youth joining militant ranks. “Young boys joining militant ranks is a cause of concern. Security forces and civil society have to join hands to curb this trend.”
He reiterated that local militants, who want to surrender and join the mainstream, will given every possible help. “We ask local militants even during encounters to surrender. If they (militants) accept our offer even at that time, we will help them to rehabilitate,” he assured.
The IG CRPF added that the recent attacks on political workers and leaders in South Kashmir is nothing but the frustration of militants, who have suffered heavy losses in the last about six months.
“We have been able to kill top militant commanders in the last six months. The attacks on politicians is nothing but their frustration,” he added.
(AGENCIES)
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