‘Don't rush to encounter sites'

Local support for militants a challenge for security forces

NL Correspondent

Srinagar: The security forces in Kashmir are grappling with protestors during encounters that has become a cause of concern for them during counter insurgency operations

Police in the valley has issued an advisory many a times asking people  living within two-kilometres from the site of a gunbattle to stay indoors.

“In case any encounter starts anywhere, the people particularly the parents of young adults of nearby area are requested not to allow their wards to move towards the encounter site. In case they are outside home they (should) be recalled to home,” said the advisory.

Despite that some people are coming out and also attempting to help the militants that has become a new challenge for security forces in Kashmir and sometimes also lead to causalities. The incidents of protests near encounter sites has become one new law and order issue for the Police.

That also happened on Sunday when security forces were fighting with militants at Frisal in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, some people from the adjoining areas tried to come closer to encounter site to help the militants to escape in which two people died.

Police stated that it had no ‘easy' solution to control people on such occasions, saying that they are massively interfering in its ‘anti- militancy' operations.

“Despite repeated advisories, people still rushed to encounter sites putting their lives in jeopardy. Security forces should be allowed to do their job, people should not interfere in operations where they get injured or have to face teargas (shells). We try to stop the people but they still come toward us,” Director General of Police Dr SP Vaid said.

Vaid, however, claimed that lesser number of people were thronging encounter sites now, than earlier.

“We are trying to make people understand and it is decreasing now (people going near encounter sites). I don't deny that no one goes to the encounter sites, but the number has gone down comparing to previous years,” he said. “I am also grappling with the situation and there is no easy solution for this problem,” he added.

An official of the Central Reserve Police Forces' said the troops are deployed for such a situation also.

“Many a time CRPF companies are deployed for similar law and order situation which develop before, during or after the encounter,” he said.