New Delhi, June 30: Backing the Jammu and Kashmir government in dealing with the protests in Kashmir, the Centre Wednesday said the “anti-national forces fomenting trouble in the Valley were linked to Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT).”
 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation in the Valley which has witnessed stone-pelting and widespread protests for the past six days during which five persons lost their lives in CRPF and police firing.
 The high level meeting on Kashmir was attended by Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister A K Antony and senior officials of his ministry, Prime Minister’s Office and from security agencies.
 National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon also attended the meeting.
 The Centre’s approach to the situation is two-pronged, the security forces should exercise maximum restraint but people should not violate the curfew wherever it has been imposed.
 “We will support the state government in restoring the law and order situation. I hope the situation will come under control in the next few days,” Chidambaram told a media briefing here.
 Asked who were the anti-national elements involved in the trouble, the Home Minister said the “anti-national elements are clearly linked to LeT which is active in Sopur area.”
 “Two militants belonging to LeT were killed in an operation in the Sopur area few days ago,” he pointed out.
 The meeting appreciated the statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah given Tuesday appealing for calm and asking people not to allow their children to violate the law.
 “The Chief Minister’s statement has been reasonable, clear and firm. We have instructed the paramilitary forces to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with stone-pelters and also asked the Chief Minister and his ministers to visit the disturbed areas,” Chidambaram said.
 He said the CRPF will assist the state police in improving law and order situation. Reiterating instructions to the CRPF for restraint, Chidambaram said, “Curfew must be enforced. The CRPF must assist state police in enforcing curfew.”
 “We should handle the situation sensitively,” he said, adding that the CRPF fired rubber bullets in self-defence.
 Chidambaram, who was supposed to visit Srinagar on Thursday, made clear he is not going there immediately but will consider once situation improves.
 Referring to the annual Amarnath pilgrimage that commenced Wednesday, the Home Minister said that the government was committed to providing full protection to the pilgrims.
 He said he hoped that no one in Jammu and Kashmir would misled himself or herself to do any wrong to the pilgrims.
 Asked whether there was any move to amend Armed Forces Special Powers Act, he said that the Home Ministry had submitted a proposal before the Cabinet Committee on Security and as and when any decision would taken, it will be made public.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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