Srinagar: Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar Friday said that a total of 171 militants were killed this year, out of them 19 were Pakistani militants, 152 local militants. He said last year as compared to 37 civilian casualties this year 34 civilians have been killed. He also said that a lot of illegal arms and ammunition have also been seized throughout the encounters.
While addressing a press conference over the yearly performance of the police here in Kashmir capital Srinagar, Vijay Kumar said that there has been lot of improvement in situation as compared to previous years.
He said all the militants responsible for the killings of policemen this year have either been arrested or neutralized except in Bandipora incident in which two cops were killed. “We will either arrest those militants or neutralize them,” he said.
He said some political leaders and media organizations are trying to give an impression that Kashmir has returned back to 90’s and some even exaggerating situation writing lengthy articles. He warned certain mainstream leaders over doing politics on militancy and misguiding people regarding militant encounters.
While divulging information about the Pantha Chowk Srinagar encounter, Kumar said that three militants involved in Zewan attack have been killed.
He targeted political leaders over sympathizing with militants killed in encounters. The IGP said that such activities are instigating the young people and further manipulating the action carried out by the forces towards ending militancy from the valley.
He said certain political leaders are legitimating and legalizing militancy. He said what was the need to question the encounters that left militants dead and what was the need to display the photographs of militants during a protest outside Kashmir.
“I request such leaders to refrain from doing such activities as they are misguiding the society as well as the youth population” Kumar added.
With regard to Hyderpora encounter, Kumar requested political leaders to desist from instigating people. He said that if politicians and family members of slain are not satisfied with the SIT probe, they can demand a probe by higher autonomous institutions like CBI, NIA and others.
“Only court has the authority to take a final call over the probe conducted by SIT in Hyderpora encounter,” Kumar said.
“If there is any flaw in the probe, it is court to decide,” he said adding that no political leader, media organization or family members of the slain have right to pass judgment.
He said while peaceful burial of senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was a “major achievement” in year 2021, the biggest challenge for year 2022 will be dealing with the Hybrid militants—the militants who aren’t categorized in police stations.
“There was no law-and-order incident and burial remained peaceful. So., I count this as the major achievements for police for the year 2021,” Kumar said.
He expressed concern over young boys joining militant ranks saying that digital evidences suggest that teenagers who are not categorized in any police stations carry out attacks on security establishments and it is the biggest challenge for the police to trace them and categorize them.
He said another challenge that needs to be tackled is to prevent militants from attacking cops who for them are soft targets. (KNT)