Srinagar: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has stated that Tuesday's encounter with militants in Budgam was a particularly different one, as they had to fight it on two different levels — against militants and the stone pelting locals as well — informing that 40 CRPF and 20 Police personnel suffered injuries in the stone pelting.
Briefing ANI here about the Budgam encounter, CRPF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Sanjay Kumar said that the obstruction by the locals made their operation even more difficult, as they were forced to divert their attention from the militants.
"The operation was really difficult because we had to fight it on two different platforms. One was against the militants and other was the local people. Out of them, few people really made our day difficult. A lot of commotions, stone pelting, abusing and injuring our people, this made the operation really difficult," Kumar said.
Further informing that 43 CRPF jawans were injured and police reported that 20 of their men were injured in the stone pelting today, the DIG called on the locals of the Valley to steer clear of their operations and not pose as an obstruction.
"I believe that the people of Kashmir should let the law take its own course and not obstruct the operation as the operations are against militants. They should let us do our duty. We appeal to the people of Kashmir to stay away from the area of operations," he stated.
Three stone pelters were killed in retaliatory firing by security forces near the site of the Budgam encounter in Jammu and Kashmir.
The stone pelters could be seen attacking the forces while a gunbattle was underway with terrorists, during which they were killed.
At least 17 stone pelters have been injured in the firing by forces and a militant was neutralised.
The security forces had launched a search operation following a tip-off about the presence of terrorists, which then became an encounter.
The mob, which was shouting pro-azadi and pro-militant slogans, pelted stones at the security forces to break the barricades. Security forces used smoke shells and pellet guns to disperse the mob. However, when that did not work, the forces opened fire.
The police official also said the search operation turned into a gunbattle after the militant opened firing on security forces. The slain civilians have been identified as Zahid Dar, Saqib Ahmad and Ishfaq Ahmad Wani. All of them had firearm injuries, the official said. Clashes between protesters and security forces were going on till reports last came in, he added. The trend of civilians assembling near encounter sites and engaging security forces in clashes emerged last year.
Earlier, the army had warned stone pelters against helping terrorists flee from the security forces
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had said that those who disrupt operations during encounters and are not supportive will be treated as 'overground workers of terrorists'.
People creating hurdles during anti-terror operations and displaying flags of Pakistan and ISIS in Jammu and Kashmir will be dealt as anti-nationals and will face "harsh" actions, the Army Chief said.
Meanwhile, separatists in Kashmir have called for a general strike on Wednesday against the killing of three civilians during protests near an encounter site in Budgam district and sought an impartial inquiry into the incident.
"There should be a complete strike tomorrow and peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the incident," chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik said in a joint statement in Srinagar. Two youths were killed when security forces, engaged in an encounter with militants at Durbugh village of Chadoora, opened fire to chase away protesters attempting to break the cordon around a house where militants had taken shelter.
The separatists alleged that the Chadoora incident was the outcome of the Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's statement warning local youth against creating hurdles during anti-militancy operations early this year.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah had blamed the Centre and state government for the "alarming situation" and advocated talks with all stakeholders.
"By choosing to turn a blind eye towards the unprecedented level of alienation and perpetual uncertainty in Kashmir both the Central Government of Narendra Modi and the state government of Mehbooba Mufti have compounded the situation in the Valley and pushed the youth into a corner," Abdullah had said in a statement. He had said the political issue in Kashmir cannot be resolved through rhetoric, operational measures or development. "There is no alternative to talks. You have to talk to the people of Kashmir and the stakeholders of all shades of opinion with an honest intent to resolve the political issue," Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to explore an alternative to pellet guns to control protesters in Kashmir and also take action against parents of minors used as shields by militants during attacks on security forces.
