Encounter sites are not marriage venues: J&K DGP
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Encounter sites are not the venue of ‘marriages of terrorists’ to be flocked by youngsters as bullets do not differentiate between stone-pelters and militants, Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid said on Thursday following closely after four civilians were killed in a gunfight with militants in Kulgam on Wednesday.
In a first, the state director general of police (DGP) took to microblogging site Twitter to participate in a live broadcast where he took questions directly from people ranging from issues like the Kashmir problem, Islamic State terror group, human rights violations to educated youth joining terrorists and disruption of work in educational institutions.
The DGP reiterated his appeal to the youth not to come close to encounter sites.
“Let me tell you that no citizen of India would like any civilian killing. We have been repeatedly requesting people not to come near the encounter sites,” he said.
He said when bullets fly, whether from the militants, army, paramilitary forces or the police’s side, they do it in a trajectory.
“They will not look for the chest of a particular person; it can hit anybody. It is not advisable to come near the encounter sites,” he said, adding that it pained him and the forces most if a civilian died.
Civilians, he, however, insisted have no business to be present at encounter sites.
“Marriage of the militants is not going on that these boys are coming near the encounter sites,” he said.
DGP CLARIFIES STAND ON KATHUA CASE
Meanwhile, director general of police (DGP) SP Vaid, when asked in the Twitter interaction as to why the Kathua case was not transferred to CBI, he said “we have no objection but the police is as competent as anybody else”.
“If we can we fight terrorism and stone-pelting, why we can’t carry out the professional investigation. Our officers are on deputation with CBI,” Vaid said expressing confidence in crime branch that investigated the case and arrested eight persons.
He termed it a “misconception” that only officers from Kashmir were part of the special investigation team.
“The SIT had officers from all ranks and regions. A police officer is a police officer and not a Muslim, Hindu, Sikh or Christian. That is what we believe in,” he said adding that it was a misconception that no officer from Jammu area was part of the team.
Naming two of the officers, he said SSP, Jammu, Ramesh Jhalla and DSP, S Sharma, were actively involved in the case.
Meanwhile, Vaid also said he does not favour snapping of the internet to maintain law and order in the valley but is forced to take such a decision. “I am absolutely against snapping of the internet.
However, the problem is that some mischievous elements resort to misuse of it and spread hatred, false propaganda and even instigate youth,” he said.
› We have no objection (to a CBI probe), but the J&K Police is as competent as anybody else. SP VAID , director general of J&K Police, on the Kathua rape-murder case