Cops crack down on stone-pelters in J&K

In the last four days, the J&K Police has detained over 500 youths from various parts of central Kashmir which includes Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam districts. Police sources said 247 registered or potential stone-pelters have been held from Srinagar city alone.

“This has been done as a precautionary measure,” a top police officer said. “We don’t want a repeat of Pulwama”.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah meanwhile steered clear of the arrests saying his intervention would be seen as a violation of the code of conduct. “The security and law and order of the state is the responsibility of the officers who are in turn accountable to EC,” he said.

“If I talk to the officers, you will accuse me of violation of Model Code of Conduct. This question should be asked to the DG of the state or the Chief Secretary,” he said

In cases where the Police teams couldn’t arrest the stone-pelters, they have detained their relatives to pressure them into surrendering.’

Sources said the police is also checking video footage of the earlier incidents to identify more offenders.

A number of youths have been detained in Magam, Chadoora and Beerwah in Budgam district and in Kangan and Ganderbal in Ganderbal district. In North Kashmir, which goes to polls on May 7, police have detained youths in Hajin, Palhallan, Sopore and Baramulla.

Several incidents of stone-pelting were reported in south Kashmir (especially in Pulwama) on the day it went to polls. The youths had attacked polling stations and forces through the day in an attempt to keep voters away.

The J&K Police has also strengthened security in Srinagar. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed and checkpoints have been set up on all major roads leading to the city.

Pak violates ceasefire for second time in three days

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU: Three days after targeting Indian posts in Shahpur area of Poonch district, Pakistani troops opened fire at Indian troops in Bimbhar Gali area of Rajouri district in J&K on Monday morning.

Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Colonel Maneesh Mehta said the troops opened fire with small and automatic weapons along the LoC at 5.15 am. He said the Indian Army retaliated, leading to an exchange that lasted till afternoon. He added that there was no loss of life or damage to property reported from the Indian side.

Pakistani troops had earlier violated ceasefire in Poonch district on April 25. The exchange had lasted for over three hours.

The recent ceasefire incidents have come after a lull of nearly four months. Pakistani troops had last opened fire in Uri sector of Kashmir on January 26 and then at Balakote in Poonch on January 29

These violations come despite meetings between the Directors General of Military Operations and Brigade Commanders of the two sides at Wagah border and Poonch since December.

Sources attributed these incidents to an attempt by the Pakistani troops to push armed terrorists into the state.