Srinagar: Terming the recent statement of Huriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani wherein he had condemned the stone pelting in valley , a ‘welcome step’, Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad today said Geelani should take ‘on ground measures’ to stop the stone pelting incidents in valley.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the DGP said the recent statement of Geelani that the stone pelting should be stopped, is a ‘good step’ provided it gets implemented on ground. “We see that the stone pelting incidents do take place in several areas and when he (Geelani) condemns it, he should thoroughly follow the matter so that stone pelting could be halted at the earliest.â€
Mr. Prasad further stated that the separatists have been issuing statements against stone pelting in the past as well but the need of the hour is to implement the statements on ground.
Without naming Geelani, DGP mentioned that the fiery speeches made by some separatists make youth to disturb law and order in valley. “They seek permission to offer Friday prayers but then use the day to serve their political interests,†said the DGP while adding that the situation naturally gets disturbed when the ‘fiery speeches’ are being delivered in front of the large gathering.
Reacting to the recent news report about the ‘contradictory’ number of militants operating in valley, Mr. Prasad said that Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) department has the figures which state the 180 militants are operating in valley besides 20 in other parts of the state. “The total number of militants present in the state is 200 this year (2013).â€
However he further mentioned that there could be the variation in the numbers between various security agencies operating in the state as according to DGP, holding gun alone does not qualify to be a militant. “There are so many Over Ground Workers (OGW), many work here without the gun, some are militant informers. There are several definitions of the word militant therefore the numbers could vary.â€
