DANGEROUS: 95 local youths joined militant ranks since 2016, says IGP -
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said Kashmir had seen worse days in the past and hoped the situation would improve here soon.
Mufti was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the opening of the civil secretariat offices in summer capital Srinagar, after six months during which these offices functioned in winter capital Jammu.
“We have seen worse days than these. The situation will improve soon,” she said while asserting that every local youth was not a stone pelter.
“Every youth in Kashmir is not a stone pelter,” she said.
The seat of governance in the state shuttles on a six monthly basis between the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar.
Heightened security was in place all along the route taken by the VIPs to reach the civil secretariat in Batamaloo area of the city.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said 95 local youths have joined militant ranks in the Valley since last year, while a total of 200 militants are active in Kashmir at this time.
“The situation is normal in central and north Kashmir areas while there are challenges for the security forces in some pockets of south Kashmir,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) S J M Gilani told a media conference in Srinagar.
The Valley police chief said that outside elements had been fomenting trouble in campuses of educational institutions.
Gilani said some elements had recently used money to lure students to pelt stones in north Kashmir’s Handwara town where clashes were witnessed on Friday between students and the security forces.
The top police officer also said an inquiry had been initiated into the April 15 incident in which security forces had entered the college in Pulwama town and roughed up some students.
“Action against the guilty would be taken as per the law,” he assured.
— IANS
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