Delhi: Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, Director General, Central Reserve Police Force, has said that there has been a sharp drop in the number of stone-throwing incidents in the Kashmir Valley this year.
He was quoted as saying by The Hindu, “Last year, around 1,600 incidents were reported when CRPF personnel were attacked with stones. This year, the number has fallen to fewer than half, around 700 incidents maybe. There are days when there is no such incident.”
“No anti-militancy operation was aborted due to stone pelting. While we have showed lot of restraint, we did not let them run riot. We have revised our standard operating procedures and are increasingly using non-lethal options like tear gas shells and plastic bullets,” Bhatnagar added.
He further told the Daily, "The number of militants being killed has gone up sharply and this has led to desperate attacks on security forces. We would bullet-proof all the vehicles that are used for patrolling duties. Recently, six of our jawans were saved as their armoured vehicle protected them when they came under heavy fire from terrorists. A sub-inspector sitting at the front was killed, we are getting the vehicles 100% bullet-proofed now."
Meanwhile, BJP national president Amit Shah said in Panaji on Saturday that for the first time, the separatists in Kashmir were facing the heat.
He had added that the security forces would soon take control of the situation in the Valley.
"You can't assess the situation in Kashmir in the backdrop of the happenings of the last 4-5 months. Kashmir has been witnessing these issues since 1989. If you look at the scenario there since 1989, you will see certain phases running for months, which will make you feel that Kashmir has gone out of our hands. But Kashmir has not gone till now and will never go," he had said, as per PTI.
"Our security forces have always controlled the situation and they will continue to do so. The beginning has been made. For the first time, the separatists are feeling the heat and what you see is their reaction. The security forces have given an apt reply. Our security agencies will soon control the situation in Kashmir and after that, for a long span, no one will dare to act against India in Kashmir," he had said.
(With Agency inputs)
