Cabinet urges parents to counsel their wards to refrain from violence
Mudassir Ahmad
Srinagar: Government on Sunday said it will do its job and try to exercise maximum restraint possible but asked the parents that they are responsible in ensuring the safety of their kids.
Addressing a hurriedly convened press conference at the Civil Secretariat Srinagar, government spokesperson and Education minister Naeem Akhtar said that the cabinet has directed the forces to exercise maximum restraint. “However it is the people, especially the youth who are attacking the police posts and forcing them to open fire,” Akhtar said.
“We have seen how small kids and teens, all emotionally charged, come out and are instigated by some who use petrol bombs, burn public properties while fleeing away leaving these kids to face the reactions to their actions,” he said.
“And wherever we find disproportionate use of force, we will dig deep and investigate the exact situation leading to the action. However, what we have predominantly seen (from the last few days), many police station have been burnt (he did not give the details), camps have been overrun, and at majority of places it has been seen that the security personnel were forced to use their weapons,” Akhtar claimed.
He also trashed any and all questions regarding civilian killings and overall tense situation in Kashmir and said it was ‘doing its job' to bring back normalcy for which it needed the ‘support' of both ‘mainstream' parties as well as Hurriyat leaders.
He said the “government is conscious of its responsibilities and the cabinet discussed the matter “threadbare”.
“The state cabinet headed by the Chief Minister today assembled for an unscheduled meeting to analyse the situation, the cabinet expressed its regret the way the situation deteriorated resulting in death of a few youth. It is a very lamentable development,” the government spokesperson said.
He added that “as a society, we should not take this protest, whether it is needed or not, to a level where a situation arises that a gun-wielding man is forced to use it against the public.”
Appealing mainstream political parties, Hurriyat leaders and parents to support the government in bringing back normalcy, Akhtar said, “If they want peace and safety of human lives, we need their support. We see footages of small kids pelting stones without knowing why and who they are throwing them at. We request the parents of such kids to keep an eye on their children.”
He added that the situation in Kashmir is not new as such regrettable incidents have happened in the past as well. “The loss to property can be compensated however we know that when a life is lost, it destroys an entire family,” he said.
Akhtar said that the cabinet meeting held today was briefed by Chief Secretary and Director General Police (DGP) and “it was decided that for the safety of life and property of people, all necessary steps will be taken including asking forces to exercise maximum restraint possible and trying to cause zero collateral damage.”
Citing few examples of violent protests “attacking” government forces, Akhtar claimed that many CRPF camps, police stations including a residence of an SDPO was torched.
“Just before coming here, we came to know that a police post in Sangam was overturned into the river in which one of the troopers lost his life. Three policemen are continuously missing,” he said.
According to Akhtar, any reports of shortage of blood or medicines were mere rumours.
“At this point, we have 250 pints of blood availed at SMHS. But if people want still want to donate, they are all welcome. If any patient is required to be taken outside for treatment, the government will bear the cost,” he said.
He also spoke on loss to tourism saying, “A huge number of tourists came to Kashmir this year. Shayed nazar lagi (a evil eye set upon it). We are arranging additional flights and transportation to airport for them. Amarnath Yatra is suspended for now and we will resume it as soon as possible.”
The government spokesperson placed the number of casualties at 15, and claimed there were more injuries to police personnel than to civilians. As soon as questions started pouring in, Akhtar concluded the presser saying “I am not answering any questions.
