Senior CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami on Monday said that the Government should “revisit its muscular policy.”
In a statement here Tarigami said, “Anantnag, Kulgam,Pulwama and Shopian in south Kashmir have been on the boil ever since July2016. Despite passing of three years,the situation in the region is not showing any significant improvement withmedia reports showing that some youth continue to join militant ranks.”
“Why isn’t there significant change in south Kashmir despitehuge deployment of security forces? Perhaps it is because muscular approach isnot achieving desired results and needs to be revisited. The policy makers needto answer these questions. Mere counting of arrests and killings are not ananswer to this situation,” Tarigami said.
He said, “Arbitrary arrests, nocturnal raids and are causinginsecurity and harassment among people in the region. It has been done beforeas well in the state, but it has never yielded anything. On the other hand, itjust exacerbates the anger and gives rise to further uncertainty.”
“During early 1990’s large scale arrests took place whichonly worsened situation. This is a tried and tested and failed model which weare afraid will only worsen the situation further,” Tarigami added.
“Though the authorities lifted twice a week curbs on themovement of civilian vehicles on National Highway, reports of security forces harassingthe commuters are still pouring in. In the name of security, people are beingharassed day-in and day-out. The safety of security forces convoys isimportant, but in the name of security common people should not feel anyinconvenience or harassment. Patients, students, employees, traders and others,who have to commute daily on the highway should be given full respect by theforces while their convoys move. There should be a better and people friendlyway of protecting forces using the highway,” he said.