Won’t allow any protest in Kashmir Valley: Dilbag

JAMMU: The Police will not allow any form of protests in the Kashmir Valley until the government lifts restrictions imposed since August 5 and restores normalcy in the strife-torn State, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said, even as he urged people to respect the prevailing curbs.

The state police chief’s comments come days after the police arrested 13 women including sister and daughter of former chief minister and incumbent parliamentarian, Dr. Farooq Abdullah after they had staged a protest against the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into union territories.

“We have banned all forms of protests in the Valley until the normalcy is restored here,” Singh said, referring to the October 15 incident when 13 prominent women led by Suraiya Mattoo and Safiya Abdullah Khan, respectively sister and daughter of Abdullah and the aunt and sister of Omar Abdullah, were arrested by Singh’s men for violating Section 144, barring assembly of more than four persons.

The protesters were booked under Section 107 for breaching the peace and were lodged at the Central jail and were granted bail the next day.

"Our effort would be to stabilise peace further before any such activity is allowed," the DGP said on Saturday.

"Absolutely no protests will be allowed. Maybe when the situation further improves, we will see. But not as of now," Singh was quoted telling a news channel.

Urging Kashmiris to respect the restrictions placed in Srinagar, the DGP said that the women protesters needed to go to the deputy commissioner and seek permission.

Singh also raised objections over the content written on some of the placards carried by women.

Some of the placards the women protestors were carrying had read, 'Kashmiri brides not for sale', 'Why downgrade Jammu and Kashmir state'.

The police chief said that the content written on placards held the potential to dismiss the law and order situation in the Valley, and therefore, ''effective action had to be taken''.

"Provocations do not come only through words which you speak. Provocation comes from the placards which you carry," Singh said.

Comment on this Story