Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 24: Alleging that the situation in south Kashmir has not shown any significant improvement since July 2016, senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that the Government needs to revisit ‘muscular approach’ as it is not giving desired results.
“Comprising four districts-Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian-South Kashmir has been on the boil ever since July 2016. Despite passing of three years, the situation in the region is not showing any significant improvement with media reports showing that some youths continue to join militant ranks,” he said in a statement issued here on Monday.
“Why isn’t there significant change in south Kashmir despite huge deployment of security forces? Perhaps it is because muscular approach is not giving desired results and needs to be revisited. The policy makers need to answer these questions. Mere counting of arrests and killings are not an answer to this situation,” he alleged.
He said alleged arbitrary arrests and nocturnal raids are causing insecurity and harassment among people in the region. “It has been done before as well in the state, but it has never yielded anything. On the other hand, it just exacerbates the anger and gives rise to further uncertainty,” he said.
“During early 1990’s large scale arrests took place which only worsened situation. This is a tried and tested and failed model which we are afraid will only worsen the situation further,” he said.
Similarly, he said some people arrested under different laws, are not being released despite courts ordering their release on bail. “Those released by the courts are being re-arrested from the jail compound itself and booked under Public Safety Act (PSA),” he alleged.
“Job of security forces is law enforcement. You can control the unlawful activities only through lawful measures. Such a course amounts to violation of laws which cannot help in restoring order,” Tarigami said.
He said though the authorities lifted twice a week curbs on the movement of civilian vehicles on National Highway, reports of security forces harassing the commuters are still pouring in. “In the name of security, people are being harassed day-in and day-out,” he alleged.
“The safety of security forces convoys is important, but in the name of security common people should not feel any inconvenience or harassment. Patients, students, employees, traders and others, who have to commute daily on the highway should be given full respect by the forces while their convoys move. There should be a better and people friendly way of protecting forces using the highway,” he added.
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