J&K govt capable of handling situation in Valley, says Rijiju
Union minister says necessary support and input will be provided by central government to the admn
JAMMU:As situation continues to remain tense in the Valley - especially after the spurt in attacks on police personnel - latest in which six policemen were killed, standing by the BJP-partnered government in Jammu and Kashmir, minister of home affairs Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said that state government is capable of handling the present situation in the Valley.
Rijiju was in Jammu on Sunday to attend the closing ceremony of Phase 2 of ‘Oorja’CAPFs under-19 football talent hunt tournament for boys and girls, organised by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Condemning the selective attacks on police personnel and civilians in the valley, Rijiju said, “The government of Jammu and Kashmir is capable of handling the situation and necessary support and input will be given by the Centre.” On the strategy of the Centre to deal with situation in the wake of spurt in attacks on police personnel, MoS home said, “All the strategies have to be dealt with due consultations through the state government, because we have an elected government in J&K.”
“The state government's inputs and strategies are to be given priority. Moreover, the Centre cannot give a statement on strategy,” he said.
In past couple of months, the militants, whose only targets were security forces and their establishments, have now started killing J&K police personnel and even civilians.
On June 16, six police men, including station house officer, were killed in an ambush in Achabal in Anantnag district by suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants. These militants even tried to disfigure the faces of policemen before walking away with their weapons.
On late Saturday evening, militants injured one civilian outside his home in Pinglana area of south Kashmir.
On asking about the past couple of incidents which have created terror among locals in the Valley, Rijijiu said, “People of J&K will not tolerate barbaric attacks on civilians or the men in uniform. These cannot be welcomed by any sensible person.”
However, the minister ducked the query on the absence of J&K chief minister and any other minister from the state government from the wreath-laying ceremony of the six policemen killed by militants the other day.
“I came here to attend the closing ceremony of the football tourney in which, youth of J&K too have participated, and this good message should go out. I do not want to make any statement to score political points,” Rijiu said.