Srinagar, Jan 31: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said troops were given specific instructions by his government to take all precautions to avoid collateral damage during anti-militancy operations.
At the same time, he said that despite a decline in militancy in the state, the troops were not complacent, giving the militants a run and restricting their movements.
“The militancy has dropped considerably and there is no need to panic. The intelligence apparatus is well in place and operations are carried out after specific inputs only,” Omar told PTI here.
When asked about the escape of a militant in Sopur today, the third such incident this month, Omar said, “It’s time to compliment the security forces for maintaining restraint so that there is no collateral damage.”
 The Chief Minister made it clear that the troops had been directed by his government to maintain utmost restraint and refrain from risking the lives of innocents.
 “We will get the militant once again as his roads are choked but why should the civilians be penalised. It has never happened ever since I took over as the Chief Minister and the security forces have cooperated,” Omar said while defending the police action.
 Citing today’s incident when a militant managed to escape in Sopur, he said the militant hurled two grenades that sparked a fire in some of the houses in the vicinity.
 “The police and security forces personnel suspended the operation against the militants and got engaged in dousing the flames,” Omar said.
 He lashed out at certain political parties who claimed that the state government was going soft against the militants and said “preventing the life of civilians can never be construed as being soft.”
 “Let them have a look at the figures, which speak for themselves. The last one year has seen less civilian damage and more casualties to militants.”
 Before today’s incident, militants had earlier managed to escape from a cordon in Pulwama and Kulgam in South Kashmir this month.
 Omar said that for last two months, intelligence-driven operations have seen rich dividends in the state. He felt that the media only highlights the failures but remains ignorant about the large number of successful operations.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST