Alternative to pellet guns in few days: Rajnath in Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Pellet guns, which has caused large-scale injuries in the 47-day unrest in Kashmir, are likely to be replaced soon with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday saying an alternative to this crowd control device for security forces will be given in the coming few days.
Singh, who is in restive Kashmir for the second time in a month as part of Centre’s outreach, also said it was willing to talk to anyone on the problems faced in Jammu and Kashmir within the ambit of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat’ (Kashmir’s pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy).
With Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by his side, Singh told reporters on the second and final day of his visit to Kashmir that an all party delegation from Delhi will be going to the Valley and that a nodal officer is to be appointed in the Union Home Ministry to address any concerns of Kashmiris who are living in other parts of the country.
As the unrest in Kashmir entered the 48th day, Singh also declared that India’s future was linked with Kashmir’s future.
“If future of Kashmir is not safe, India’s future cannot be safe as well,” he said.
On the contentious use of pellet guns as crowd control mechanism, the Home Minister said the report of the expert committee on this is expected within three to four days.
Besides injuries, hundreds of people have been also left blinded in pellet firing.
“In the coming few days, we will give an alternative to the pellet guns. These guns were earlier considered non-lethal but some incidents have taken place ... we formed an expert committee a month back which was expected to give report in two months but it will be coming very soon,” he said.
He said the security forces exercised restraint while dealing with protesters in the Valley. More than 4,000 jawans have been injured while dealing with the situation, he added.
Singh said people of India were pained when anyone -- be it local youth or security jawans -- get killed.
“Cannot we take Kashmir out of this situation? I appeal to everyone in Kashmir not to play with the future (genera- tion) of the Valley,” he said.
As many as 66 persons, including two police personnel, have been killed and several thousands injured ever since the turmoil broke out after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
“In 2010, it was said pellet gun is a non lethal weapon which can cause least damage but now we feel that there should be some alternate to this,” Singh said.
Replying to questions, he said the Centre wanted to bring an All Party Delegation to Kashmir in the coming days.
“I have told (Chief Minister) Mehbooba Mufti about it and asked her to make arrangements so that the delegation can meet the people here.”
The Home Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was concerned about the situation in Kashmir and had expressed his pain recently.
“He is constantly in touch with me over the situation in Kashmir”. Singh said the youth of Kashmir should have books and pens in their hands, instead of stones. “Who is forcing them to take stones in their hands? Will they guarantee their future?”
Asserting that the government was concerned about the Kashmiri youth, he said, “we see future of Kashmiri youth like we see the future of youth elsewhere in India”.