Reform, don’t kill locals caught in militancy: Mehbooba Mufti

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti urged police officials to help bring back to the mainstream those youths who have left their homes to join militancy.

“I request police not to kill these young boys who have joined militancy or are missing waiting to take gun in their hands.

What is their future after few years? Let us give them bat, ball and education in their hands instead of guns,” she told a gathering of police officials on the Police Commemoration Day on Friday.

“Resolving issues is the concern of big people.” Mufti said “black laws” like Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act were not permanent and would be repealed area wise, once peace returned.

For banning pellet guns, Mufti asked for help of police officials and urged them to exercise maximum restraint and not to target children with pellet guns even if they get injured in the line of duty.

Urging Pakistan to help maintain peace, Mufti said people of J&K were the worst hit by warmongering and tension between the India and Pakistan, even though trade at the Wagah border in Punjab has not stopped even for a second.

The situation in Kashmir continues to remain tense as restrictions and shutdown since the killing of Hizb ul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani entered 105th day on Friday.

As many as 92 civilians were killed and more than 13,000 injured so far in police, CRPF and army action against protestors since early July. Militancy has also increased. Suspected militants snatched more than 30 rifles from policeman in the past one month.

Mufti mentioned that the accused in the killing of three civilians — Junaid, Shabir and Riyaz — during the ongoing protests would be punished as the action by the government forces in those cases was uncalled for.