SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police today asked shopkeepers to defy separatists' call for a shutdown and assured complete security “to everybody”.
Speaking on the sidelines of a function, S K Mishra, acting Director General of Police, said shopkeepers should open their establishments during day time to defy “separatist-sponsored strike”.
“Yes, this is a bad thing (the separatist sponsored strike). People should open their shops even during day time. We are ready to provide protection to everybody,” he said.
The separatist camp, including hardliner Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik, is spearheading the ongoing unrest in the valley triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militants in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on July 8.
On the prevailing situation in Kashmir, the acting police chief said the situation is “improving” but did not rule out seeking additional forces to restore normalcy in the Valley.
“It (situation) is improving. You see there is deployment. We will enhance the deployment to ensure that no untoward incident occurs,” he said.
Mishra, however, said “We will try but in case the situation deteriorates, we will procure additional manpower (to tackle the situation).”
On the separatists issuing veiled threats to the policemen allegedly involved in the firing on protesters, he said “These are things they are doing but we are trying our best to maintain law and order.”
“The public needs to come out to restart their normal activities. I appeal to the public to come out during day time and open their shops and lead a normal life,” he said.
The Acting Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police S K Mishra has called for maintaining close vigil on the “suspicious elements”, who are fuelling the situation for their “personal gains” and “endangering” the lives of innocent people.
“There is a need for maintaining close vigil on the suspicious elements, feeling the situation for their personal gains and endangering the lives of innocent people, besides public properties,” Mishra said while chairing a high-level meeting of officers at Police Control Room here yesterday.
The meeting, which was convened to discuss arrangements for Independence day celebrations across the state, was attended by senior officers of police, paramilitary forces and civil administration, who held a threadbare discussion with regard to deployment of police personnel and maintenance of law and order, an official spokesman said.
He said adequate man power would be deployed at the venues where Independence day functions will be held for maintenance of law and order, besides contingents from different wings would participate in the celebrations for which the exercise has been started.
DGP called upon the officers to maintain synergy among various agencies and directed for keeping available required man power for the functions without affecting the law and order duties.
“Maintenance of peace and order during the Independence day celebrations should be the priority,” he said.
Earlier, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) S J M Gillani apprised the meeting about the arrangements made with regard to the state level function being held at Bakshi Stadium in the summer capital Srinagar.
It was told that effective measures have been taken for the security and deployment of man power, the spokesman said.
