Three terrorists escape after stone pelters hit Kulgam encounter site

TNN Bureau. Updated: 2/23/2017 1:42:32 AM Front Page

SHABIR AHMAD

SRINAGAR: In the second such type of incident in last four days, three terrorists escaped during a cordon and search operation in Kulgam district on Wednesday after heavy stone pelting by the people.
The incident took place in Tarigam area of Kulgam on Wednesday morning after Rashtirya Rifles and Special Operation Group of J&K Police cordoned off the area around Public Health Centre and started searches there. "We had information about the presence of three Terrorists in area," police said.
An official in know of developments told The News Now that as soon searches were undertaken, massive protests and stone pelting erupted in area. "We burst tear smoke shells, but the protestors and stone pelters entered into the cordoned off area," the official said adding there was heavy stone pelting in the area. The official said that protests and pelting created chaos and confusion. "We retracted because of apprehensions of collateral damage," he said adding that they do not know whether Terrorists managed to escape with people or they were still there. "We have deployed men in plain clothes to track them down. There is always tomorrow."
This is the second incident in last four days. Earlier on Sunday a huge mob raised slogans and pelted stones at security forces who had begun an anti-militancy operation at Warwun-Newa village in Pulwama.
Since 2015, there have been numerous instances when people have come rushing down to encounter sites distracting army SOG teams and helping Terrorists to flee in some cases but it is the police and paramilitary and not army which takes them on. This is a serious challenge to the security forces involved in counter insurgency operations in Kashmir and day by day more areas of valley are joining the trend.
This is happening, despite an advisory by the police, asking people to stay indoors at the time of an encounter between Terrorists and security forces, people in south Kashmir have come out on to the streets and attacked forces which is seen as a diversionary tactic to help the besieged militants.
Less than a week ago and a day after the Army Chief's warning, the Jammu and Kashmir Government also came up with a public advisory asking people to stay away from counter-insurgency operation sites for their own safety. "…don't move towards or assemble near the encounters sites to avoid loss and injuries to precious human lives," the advisory cautioned people, while making it clear that the prohibitory restrictions have been imposed within the radius of 3 km from the site of any counter-insurgency operation.
This, however, is not the first time that such an advisory has been issued. In February 2016, following the killing of two students in firing allegedly by the forces, the Jammu and Kashmir police cautioned civilians to stay away from encounter sites. "Civilians residing within radius of 2 km of an encounter site should stay inside their homes and make sure their children are indoors too," the police advisory said. But it had little impact on the ground as people continued to move towards encounter sites to help Terrorists escape.


Comment on this Story