Days after Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat made remarks that tough action will be taken against civilians who obstruct military’s anti-terror operations, fresh clashes broke out outside Jama Masjid in Srinagar’s Nowhatta area with protesters raising Pakistani flags and even pelted stone on the jawans. The protests erupted soon after the Friday prayers.
However, there are no reports on injuries or loss to property. Earlier on February 15, General Bipin Rawat gave out a strong message to those obstructing Army operations.
“We would now request the local population that people who have picked up arms, and they are the local boys, if they want to continue with the acts of terrorism, displaying flags of ISIS and Pakistan, then we will treat them as anti-national elements and go helter-skelter for them,” Rawat said.
J&K: Stone pelted and Pakistani flags raised near Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers in a protest in Srinagar. pic.twitter.com/5LRhRvcTxP
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 17, 2017
“They may survive today but we will get them tomorrow. Our relentless operations will continue,” the Army Chief told reporters.
Meanwhile, defending the Army Chief’s comments, Defence Minister Manohar Parikar has said that Army does not consider every Kashmiri on the street as a terror sympathiser.
“Army has a free hand for CICT (counter insurgency and counter terrorism) operations and the final decision rests with the local commander. Such operations are based on specific inputs,” he added.
Meanwhile, grenade lobbed at police party at Pohru Nowgam near Srinagar in which 2 policemen were injured.
J&K: Grenade lobbed at police party at Pohru Nowgam near Srinagar, 2 policemen injured
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 17, 2017
