Army to be given bigger role in Kashmir

As Army chief General Dalbir Singh on Friday reviewed the security situation in the violence-hit Valley, reports are emerging that in the coming days, the army will be given an expanded role in south Kashmir to contain  street protests.

“As the police and CRPF hasn’t been able to contain the violence in restive south Kashmir, where everyday thousands of people come out on the streets despite curfew, the army will be given a major role in containing the violence in the coming days,” sources told DH.

Huge protests and freedom rallies by various sects—Deobandis, Barelvis, Jamiat-I-Ahlihadith and Jamat-I-Islami —under the banner of Itihad-I-Milat have become a norm in south Kashmir villages during the ongoing unrest triggered by the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The government has failed to contain the rallies.

Besides, movement of militants has been reported in several areas of south Kashmir. “The aim to give the army an expanded role is also to step up patrol against militants besides curbing the activities of the stone-pelting mobs,” sources said.

In four districts of south Kashmir—Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian—the writ of the government is nowhere and further deployment of the army will help reclaim the state’s authority in rural areas, which have been degraded. A senior police officer posted in south Kashmir, while acknowledging that the presence of the army will be increased denied that the army will fully take over the role of containing violence.

“The army is not equipped to deal with mobs and protests, as they don’t carry riot control equipment. Basic policing responsibilities will remain with the police and CRPF who use non-lethal weaponry to control violent crowds and the army will only do area domination job,” he told DH. Meanwhile, the army chief who visited defence formations in the north and south of the Valley, was briefed about the prevailing situation in Kashmir by Northern commander Lt Gen DS Hooda and GOC of Srinagar-based 15-Corps, Lt Gen Satish Dua. “General Singh was informed by the army commanders about the steps to be taken to help the civil administration restore normalcy, particularly in south Kashmir,” sources said.