Centre toughens stand, army asked to strengthen operations in neutralising foreign militants

NEW DELHI:The Centre on Wednesday directed security forces to take action against troublemakers in Kashmir and to heighten vigil along India-Pakistan border to bring down infiltration, toughening its stand after an attempt to quell the prolonged violent unrest in the Valley through talks proved unsuccessful.

Home minister Rajnath Singh held a discussion with Army chief General Dalbir Singh for nearly 20 minutes, during which General Singh briefed the home minister about the situation along the Line of Control, officials said. The development comes a day after the all-party delegation returned from Srinagar after a two-day visit in which it sought to analyse the situation on the ground and also tried to hold parleys with the separatist leaders, an endeavour in which it was snubbed.

An official who was part of the delegation told ET, “J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti too is being nudged to give a strong message to and act against the real culprits.”

A senior government official said that the Intelligence Bureau, CRPF, BSF and state police have been directed to resume operations that had waned since violent protests erupted across the Valley after Wani was killed in an encounter with the security forces on July 8.

The Army has been asked to step up its operations in identifying and neutralising foreign militants, the official said.

“The Centre had tried building consensus by taking an all-party delegation. Now, we need to send a strong message to troublemakers and at the same time ensure than no innocent is punished. The state police needs to take the lead role and make sure those children who are indulging in violence are discouraged,” he said.

The government also instructed the security forces to initiate action against overground workers of militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen and members of Hurriyat who are allegedly responsible for instigating young children and youth to come on the streets and indulge in stone-pelting.