Jammu Tawi, February 18 (KIP): To avoid killing of civilians or
injury to them, the state Government has embarked on new plan of
imposing restrictions round the encounter sites. In the past civilians
and opposition political leaders have condemned he Government and
the security forces for having harmed physically innocent civilians
during the time of encounters between the security forces and the
militants.
It is in this context that the Government has decided to keep
three-km area around the encounter site as a “no go zones” so that
civilians do not get injured during the crossfire between the
militants and the security forces. This step has been initiated after
the army Chief, Bipin Rawat issued a warning to miscreants who either
unfurl Pak or ISIS flags or thwart counter insurgency operations.
Though the NC and the Congress have berated the Army chief for issuing
such a warning but the Defence Minister,Manohar Parrikar has
supported Gen. Rawat's warning.
Official sources said that this step would ensure that no
civilian was harmed. This step is expected to reduce civilian
killings.
