Reacting to the events that took place at the encounter site at Chadoora, Budgam on Wednesday, Brig Anil Gupta, State Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party has stated in a press release that, “stone pelting on the security personnel who were engaged in a counter-terror operation based on hard and specific intelligence is an act of cowardice and disgrace and needs to be condemned by one and all. The act is also unlawful because an attempt was made by the unruly mob to obstruct the policemen from performing their legitimate duty. Such acts not only cause injuries to the jawans but also effects their morale and they enjoy legal sanction to react in self-defence clarified Brig Gupta.
The injuries suffered by more than 60 policemen due to stone-pelting are unacceptable and local police needs to act swiftly to nab the stone pelters and their instigators. Condemning the death of three youth, Brig Gupta said that these precious lives could have been saved had they decided to stay away from the mob. The mob literally attacked and abused the policemen who were preventing them from interfering with smooth conduct of anti-terror operations forcing them to retaliate in self-defence.
Taking the Hurriyat leaders to task for calling the bandh on Friday and protests after the Friday prayers, Brig Gupta warned them to stop furthering the Pak agenda of keeping Kashmir in turmoil. It is also unfortunate that for sake of few votes some politicians are polarising the tense situation in the Valley and adding fuel to fire with their communally loaded statements including a call for Jihad rued Brig Gupta. The need of the hour is that all leaders in the Valley should unitedly fight the Pakistan sponsored Proxy War and appeal to the people to desist from interfering with anti-terror operations launched by the security forces. Terrorism needs to be eliminated from the Valley so that the PDP-BJP alliance government that is committed to holistic and balanced development in the state is able to pursue its agenda of development and encourage outside investment to create much needed jobs appealed the spokesperson.
