The J&K Government today appealed for help from separatists for bringing calm after holding an emergency Cabinet meeting in Srinagar.
“I seek support of political stakeholders, including those who are not from mainstream, for helping restore calm in Kashmir,” Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar said here while briefing reporters after the Cabinet met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. “The violence has neither served any purpose in the past nor is it going to do so in the prevailing circumstances.”
The Cabinet expressed deep grief and anguish over the loss of precious human lives during the prevailing law and order situation in Kashmir. The minister, who is also the spokesman of the J&K Government, said law enforcing agencies at most of the places were compelled to use force on protesters.
“There were a number of attacks on police stations and security forces’ camps which forced the law enforcement agencies to retaliate. Even today, a cop was pushed into Jhelum river near Sangam along with his vehicle by a violent mob resulting in his on-the-spot death,” Akhter said, adding that the mobs set ablaze many police stations and police vehicles and tried to overrun camps of security forces at various places.
“I urge the youths not take protests to a level where the security forces are forced to use their weapons in retaliation,” he said. The minister said they would investigate the disproportionate use of force and the government had also asked the police and the security forces to exercise restraint to prevent loss of human lives.
“The complaints of disproportionate use of force are being looked into to restore public confidence in the law and order set-up,” Akhtar said.
Govt appeals Separatists to help restore normalcy
