Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 6: The alleged interference of some ministers in matters of policing is being seen as a main cause of worsening situation in Kashmir.
Highly placed sources said the widespread student protests on Thursday against the recent killings in Kashmir were avoidable if the educational institutions were kept shut.
Sources said the police and civil administration had inputs about massive protests and thus the official machinery was intending to keep the educational institutions closed. But, sources said, some senior ministers in the PDP government directed the administration to keep the schools open, as they "wanted to give a rosy picture of the situation to promote tourism."
Officials said the decision to keep the educational institutions open during uneasy situations is to be taken by the concerned District Commissioners or the Divisional Commissioner after consultation with the police.
"But what is happening in Kashmir is that a coterie of ministers including one nicknamed 'Birbal' and his relative, both of whom enjoy good chemistry these days, poke their nose in everything including policing and administrative affairs," said a source.
He said the ministers "in violation of norms and their authority" allegedly forced the concerned officials to keep the educational institutions open.
On April 5, massive student protests were reported from across Kashmir whereas in one of the incidents the mobs torched a picket near Amar Singh College Srinagar.
Sources said had the police not exercised maximum restraint, there could have been lot many casualities.
A senior official said had the educational institutions been kept closed till Friday, life would be normal on the weekend. "But some of the mantris are poking their nose everywhere pleading that they know how to promote tourism," said an insider. The government had to face major embarrassment when the students boycott their classes and started staging protests. The dingdong battles continued throughout the day.
During 2016 also, when Kashmir erupted after the killing of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, similar complaints of "undue interference from a coterie of ministers" had surfaced.
In 2016, sources said 30 police stations had SHOs from armed police as all of them were "sufarshi", and thus posted at the alleged behest of some ministers.
Despite repeated attempts the ministers couldn't be contacted for comments. |
