Srinagar, Apr 29: In the backdrop of killing of around 120 civilians, mostly the youth during 2010 unrest by the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), many a mini-training centers have been opened by paramilitary forces in valley to impart skills to quell the protests with no loss of life.
 The training centers according to sources have been opened at battalion headquarters of CRPF in various districts of the valley. In Srinagar such centers are located at CRPF battalion headquarters at HMT and hotel Nedous.
 The training modules include how to control protest rally through persuasion by forming a chain/wall of police officials, using minimum force through water cannons, teargas and other non-lethal weapons such as stun grenades, dye grenades, stink bombs and rubber and plastic bullets to avoid loss of life.
 Mock drills, which recently created panic in almost all parts of valley, sources said were part of the said training programme.
 Though a visible peace prevailed in valley during the year 2011, the law enforcing agencies are readying to face eventuality of ay mass protests, and to tackle that without damage to life. “The training of new equipments will help the police and CRPF in controlling crowds without any damage to life,” said a senior CRPF official.
“Incase 2010 like situation erupts, we have to be ready to tackle that.”
 The official said that they hope it will go a long way in inculcating significant training skills in police and CRPF personnel and will equip them with techniques to tackle large protest rallies in times of emergency without loss of life.
 Inspector General (IG) of CRPF told Greater Kashmir that training programmes are being organized jointly with the police, so that there is a unity of direction and purpose in their response. “The cops and paramilitary personnel are being taught how to deal with crowds” IGP said and added that they plan to hold more such trainings in a phased manner.
 “Our priority is to ensure least damage to civilians and police personnel while dealing with law and order,” IGP said.
 Earlier in January this year, a workshop on riot control was conducted in Srinagar where the US experts imparted tips to the J&K Police officials on psycho-technical aspects of protest -control.
 During the workshop the experts from Harvard University, USA literally taught J&K police officials including Deputy Superintendents (Dy SPs), Sub-Inspectors (SIs), Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) and Head Constables (HCs) “and made them aware about their attitudes and behavior towards citizens” and “to inculcate citizen-friendly and service-oriented positive attitude in them.”
 Here it needs a mention that during 2010 protests, people allegedly pelted stones on police and CRPF. The forces in response used live ammunition that subsequently resulted in death of 120 civilians.
 The protesters were accused by the police and CRPF of using a stone pelting as a violent mean of creating chaos. CRPF and police cited stone pelting as a reason for their firing in retaliation as many security force member were hurt by this act.
 To prevent the protests curfew was imposed in Srinagar and other towns in the valley. In August, the government responded by imposing curfews in the disturbed areas and by deploying Rapid Action Force (RAF) in the Srinagar to control demonstrations. People however, defied curfew and took to streets against the unabated civilian killing.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST