Khaleej Times

Youths at encounter sites committing suicide: J&K police

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srinagar — Youths who storm the encounter sites in the Valley to hurl stones at security personnel are committing suicide, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said and appealed to them to refrain from such activity.

“In the encounter, even security forces and police take cover of a bulletproo­f vehicle or a house. Youths coming to the encounter sites are committing suicide,” Director General of Police S P Vaid told reporters here.

He appealed to the youngsters not to rush to the encounter sites, saying they were being misled and misused by elements inimical to peace in the Valley for their short-term political gains.

“A bullet does not know whom it will hit. My appeal to all the young boys is that they should remain in their homes and not come to encounter sites. The youth must understand that they are being used by people for their shortterm political gains,” he said.

The DGP said the inimical elements were misusing social media to instigate the youths to hurl stones at security forces to help militants flee. “I would say this is misuse of social media by elements inimical to peace in the valley

a bullet does not know whom it will hit. My appeal to all the young boys is that they should remain in their homes and not come to encounter sites. S.P. Vaid, DGP

and to our country. “The moment an encounter starts, they activate around 300 WhatsApp groups, each having more than 250 members, and other social networking websites like Facebook, instigatin­g young boys to reach the encounter site and throw stones so that the terrorists escape from the spot,” he said.

The Jammu & Kashmir top cop said these WhatsApp groups and other social media accounts were being monitored and action will be taken against people operating them.

“Some of these accounts have been traced across (the border). It is an attempt by the enemies of India to create problems. All these numbers are being monitored and we will take action against those operating them from here,” he said.

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