Mehbooba talks tough with army, security agencies
Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in the Unified Headquarters meeting said that police should not harass the families of militants and should not intimidate the family members of them. Her statement came after a recent incident in which a group of young boys met her younger brother Tasadduq Mufti who is PDP candidate from Anantnag and told him that how police has been harassing them and making their life difficult.
Mehbooba said that police should change its attitude on the ground and should not make the people hostile towards army, security forces and government. She told in a clear message to police to stop harassment of people and illegal confinements. Her statement came after her meeting with Prime Minister and Home Minister at New Delhi in which she discussed many problems being faced by her government because of some anti-militancy operations being carried out by army and security forces.
Official spokesman of the government in a statement expressed similar views of Chief Minister in the meeting and said, “Mehbooba Mufti directed the security agencies to undertake youth counseling and ensure that no collateral damage takes place while dealing with day to day law & order situations. She specifically directed that culprits be brought to justice if found involved in harassing a community or section of society in the name of a social cause.
Chief Minister directed the security agencies to improve the Public-Security Force interface and make it a regular affair. She said holding of counseling sessions for youth would not only help the youth ally apprehensions and misgivings about the system but would also give the security agencies a chance to reach out to people through community policing.
The Chief Minister directed the security agencies to exercise restraint while dealing with provocative situations. She added wherever restraint was exercised, it showed positive results on the ground for the Government and helped in maintaining peace and order. She said the youth unfortunately caught in the cycle of misinformation and violence are our own who ought to be won over with a healing touch.
Mehbooba Mufti said youth engagement should be prioritized rather than viewing it as a routine law and order issue. She directed that care should be taken to avoid and minimize all collateral damage while conducting operations. She also directed that parents of youth be taken into confidence as and when there is some complaint about any youth and in no way should the family be held accountable for the deeds of the said youth.
The Chief Minister directed the security agencies to ensure that inter community harmony and amity among various sections of society is maintained at all costs. She directed that culprits be brought to justice if found spreading hatred against a section of society or in the name of a social cause and if need be strict provisions of law be slapped on such hate mongers who are found taking law into their own hands.
