Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: What has disturbed police, security and Intelligence agencies more during the trouble in Kishtwar is the missing of 31 weapons, which were still untraced despite massive raids conducted by the police personnel all across Kishtwar town, outskirts and other areas during past 13 days.
Security agencies were not ruling out some of the weapons falling into the hands of anti-national elements, who had all along been trying to take advantage of the situation though their number was very low.
“Yes, 31 weapons (all 12 bore guns) that had been looted from a gun shop in the heart of Kishtwar town by the miscreants during rioting on August 9 on the occasion of Eid festival have been missing. In fact, the miscreants had looted 41 weapons but we managed to recovered 10 of them during the raids conducted in Kishtwar town and outskirts.
“Definitely, this is a disturbing trend. Despite our all appeals to representatives of the majority community to ensure return of the weapon, the people have not come forward to deposit them with police. We have also conducted raids at various places but 31 weapons and some ammunition remained untraced,’’ official sources told the Excelsior.
They said police have arrested six persons from whose possession 10 looted weapons were recovered.
Sources said special teams constituted by the police were conducting raids at various places in Kishtwar town and outskirts besides some villages to recover the weapons as there were reports that they could fall into the hands of militants.
“The possibility that some of these weapons might have already gone to the militants can’t be ruled out as 13 days have passed since the weapons were looted from a shop in Kishtwar town during the rioting,’’ sources said and added that “this was the most disturbing aspect of the rioting as the weapons could be used by the anti-national elements during the trouble’’.
However, they expressed confidence that once the things settled down, police will intensify raids and exert pressure to restore the weapons.
Worthwhile to mention here that a group of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit was still active in Kishtwar district though neighbouring Doda district has been declared free of militancy. There had been very specific inputs with the Intelligence agencies that the anti-national elements had tried to exploit the situation in Kishtwar but didn’t succeed. However, the missing of 31 weapons along with a large quantity of ammunition was the only factor that the militants might have been able to use to their perfection.
As reported by the Excelsior on the day the trouble erupted in Kishtwar on August 9, the miscreants from the majority community had looted a gun shop in the heart of Kishtwar town and decamped with 41 weapons apart from some ammunition.
Sources said police have so far detained 16 persons for rioting, who were in addition to six persons arrested for looting of the weapons. Of 16 persons, some of them could be let off after questioning. Separatist leader Moulvi Qayoom Mattu, who was reportedly responsible for instigating the mob to indulge in rioting and foment communal trouble, has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on a warrant issued by Deputy Commissioner Baseer Khan on the basis of dossier prepared by the district police.
The district administration again relaxed day curfew in Kishtwar town and outskirts for second day today. Initially, curfew was relaxed from 8 am to 2 pm and the relaxation period was subsequently extended up to 7 pm. However, night curfew remained in force as a precautionary measure.
“Army has been kept stand-by. However, it hasn’t been deployed in the town. Police and para-military personnel remained deployed in strength in the town to maintain law and order,’’ sources said.
Shops of the minority community remained shut during curfew relaxation.
“There is nothing left for us to open. Our shops had been burnt, looted and damaged. The people of minority community visited their shops to assess damaged. There was nothing for them to open and sell to the people. Everything has been lost. We have only been left to see the gutted, damaged and looted structures,’’ Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Kishtwar, convenor, Hans Raj Bhutyal told the Excelsior.
Asserting that there was no bandh call by the minorities today, Mr Bhutyal said the shopkeepers told him that they have nothing to open and it could take a long time for them to resume their business.
Mr Bhutyal, who was called by DIG Doda-Ramban range Ashkoor Wani and Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Baseer Khan this morning, said the administration has assured him that any person found harming the minorities would be immediately sent behind the bars.
“The administration has also assured me of full protection to the pilgrims of Machail Mata Ji and Janamashtami ‘jhanki’ on August 28,’’ he added.
Sources said Machail Mata Ji pilgrims were facing lot of harassment at the hands of police as they were being stopped at various places enroute Kishtwar including Jammu-Srinagar and Batote-Kishtwar National Highways for hours together. Authorities, however, said that this was being done as a preventive measure so that convoys of the devotees pass Kishtwar and other sensitive areas only under full security cover.
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