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| 'No use of firearms; engage ex-stone throwers' | | Police put their experience to good use | | Mustansir
Srinagar, Feb 15 : The fear that the situation might spill out of control in the aftermath of hanging of Parliament attack convict, Jammu and Kashmir police issued orders that no security personnel can carry firearms while dealing with mobs.
The forces have been asked to be in complete riot protection gear and use only accepted mob control measures like teargas and batons.
The order which was passed by Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir, S M Sahai, was communicated to other forces including CRPF as well. Though the decision was taken following dead of three protesters in North Kashmir's Sumbal and Watergam areas, however, the decision by the police not to carry firearms with-though risky- has yielded desired results and is expected to ease the situation in coming days. Information gathered by Early Times from various quarters reveals that the direction from the IGP Kashmir percolated down immediately and the SSPs and SPs of all the ten districts of Kashmir valley ensured that the orders are implemented in letter and spirit.
Sources told Early Times that in order to ensure that only accepted mob control measures like teargases and batons are used while dealing with the protesters, all SOG men were directed to dump their weapons with the respective ammunition depots on February. In the second instance, all the officers of and above the rank of SHOs were also directed not to carry firearms with while in the field. Sources said even PSO of police officers were asked to dump their firearms. Sources said that police officers like inspectors, Dy SPs , SPs and SSPs also adhered to the directive strictly and did not carry with them the light weapons like pistols. The directive of not carrying firearms with while dealing with the angry protesters was equally applied on CRPF. moreover, CRPF regional headquarters were asked to ensure that an officer not below the rank of company commander should lead each company from the front to ensure that Jawans do not go berserk. The directive was for dealing with mobs, in case of trouble there is always a second line of command.
According to sources the measure was taken as government didn't want a repeat of `summer of 2010 in which 117 people mostly teenagers were killed. The unrest was triggered by death of a 16-year old boy, who was killed by a tear gas shell. The boy, Tufail Mattoo, according to family was on his way to tuition classes. Sources said that J&K police also reached out to ex-stone pelters at different places and sought their cooperation in easing the situation. They said the strategy of reaching out to the ex-stone pelters of 2010 unrest who were pardoned by the police was a well conceived plan which also worked very well. |
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