42 die in collateral damage at gunfight sites

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 18

Giving an indication that the civilians have not been deterred from marching towards the gunfight sites despite security forces having adopted new strategies, as many as 42 civilians have been killed near the encounter sites this year.

Of the 42 civilian casualties, mostly protesters, seven youths were killed in a blast at the encounter site at Kulgam in October this year.

The highest number of civilian killings this year took place on Saturday when seven civilians were killed in alleged firing by security forces at Pulwama following a gunfight that also left three local militants and a soldier dead. Most of those killed in Pulwama had bullet wounds on head and chest.

Almost all the civilian killings at encounter sites have taken place in south Kashmir districts. Such incidents have been frequent this year as protesters have often marched towards the gunfight sites to help militants escape. However, in the past few months barring a few, most of the anti-militancy operations were concluded without civilian casualties.

The forces in past two months had deployed a strategy to avoid confrontation with the civilian population which also included carrying out anti-militancy operations before dawn or during night hours.

While the police have been repeatedly issuing advisories asking people to stay indoors during encounters between militants and security forces, these seem to have made no impact on the ground.

“We have been pleading constantly to people not to move towards the encounter sites,” J&K Additional Director General Police, Law and Order, Munir Khan, said.

After the high number of civilian casualties — 78 last year, the forces have carved out a procedure during anti militancy operations. As per it, while the Army is mainly involved in carrying out the operation, the police and CRPF remain involved in keeping the protesters at bay.

However, observers say people thronging encounter sites show their support for the militants.

“When people throng encounter sites or throw stones at the security personnel risking their lives to help militants break the security cordon, it shows there is a large support for the militants,” said a political observer, Khursheed Ahmed. “It is like a war. People are fighting with whatever they have stones, slogans or anger,” he said.

In the aftermath of Pulwama killings, Adviser to Governor K Vijay Kumar on Sunday asked security officials to exercise restraint, so as to avoid civilian casualties.

Seven killed in blast 

• Of the 42 civilian casualties, mostly protesters, seven youths were killed in a blast at the encounter site at Kulgam in October this year
• The highest number of civilian killings this year took place on Saturday when seven civilians were killed in alleged firing by security forces at Pulwama

Casualty count
2016 : 48
2017 : 78
2018 : 42