Politicians 'instigating' people: Kashmir IGP

Srinagar, December 31

Kashmir Police chief Vijay Kumar on Friday hit out at mainstream politicians in the Valley for trying to “instigate” people, even as he said political leaders or media did not have a right to term police investigation as wrong and only court could decide that.

Addressing a press conference here, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, asked politicians to desist from instigating the public and “destroying the youth”.

Kumar said the situation in the valley had improved in 2021, contrary to what some mainstream politicians or media persons suggest. Giving details, he said 238 terror incidents took place in Kashmir in 2020, while only 192 occurred in 2021.

“The number of civilians killed last year was 37, while it was 34 this year, even as militants openly threatened to kill civilians, political workers and security personnel. And just to hide their terror crime, legitimise it, they call them informers. We took several preventive measures to protect people,” he said.

He said some politicians were “legitimising” the killings of civilians and policemen by terrorists, and added it was a challenge for the security forces.

“Is it wrong to kill a terrorist like Abbas (Sheikh) in an encounter? Why show sympathy with him. This is wrong? I want to tell the politicians, request them to stop this, this is wrong, you are destroying the youth, the society,” he said.

On NC president Farooq Abdullah terming the SIT investigation into Hyderpora encounter as “wrong”, he said, “This is a democratic set-up and media persons, politicians and the families have the right to be not satisfied with the investigation and seek a higher-level probe thorough the NIA, CBI, High Court. But, only court can decide if any investigation is wrong.” — PTI