‘Maximum crackdown’ on miscreants in Kashmir: Cabinet

Last night,at the request of the state government,the Centre decided on deploying army to assist the civil authorities in restoring law and order in the wake of spiralling protests in Srinagar following the killing of three persons yesterday.

The meeting decided that army would be used in “peripheral” areas and not in congested areas.

It also decided that police and security forces should ensure that there should be no violation of curfew and that it should be strictly enforced.

The security Cabinet also felt that “maximum crackdown” should be carried out against miscreants.

Army staged a flag march in some areas of curfew-bound Srinagar this morning.

Home Minister P Chidambaram,Defence Minister A K Antony,Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar,NSA Shiv Shankar Menon,Home Secretary G K Pillai,and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar attended the meeting.

There was no official word on any decision taken at the hour-long meeting.

Earlier,Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju had said that army would remain on the streets in Srinagar till it was necessary but the government would like it to be short.

Army stages flag march in Srinagar

Army on Wednesday staged flag marches in curfew-bound Srinagar after it was moved into the city to assist civil authorities in maintaining law and order following violent protests that had left three persons dead.

The flag marches were conducted in Lal Chowk in the heart of the city and on the Srinagar Airport Road,a defence spokesman said.

The state government had sought the help of the army in the wake of spiralling protests in the city. Curfew imposed yesterday after three persons were killed allegedly in firing by security forces is being strictly enforced in the city.

Curfew was also in force in Anantnag,Pampore,Pulwama and Kulgam in South Kashmir and Kupwara and Bandipore in North Kashmir. Restrictions were in force at Sopore and Baramulla where Army also staged a flag march.

The Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met in New Delhi this morning and is understood to have discussed the situation in the Kashmir Valley.

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai is scheduled to visit Srinagar today to review the law and order situation there.

The army was called out on the streets of Srinagar late last night to enforce the curfew keeping in view the non-availability of adequate number of police personnel,many of whom have been deployed for Amarnath Yatra and counter-insurgency operations,official sources said.

Speaking on the army deployment,Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said the army would remain deployed in Srinagar as long as necessary but government would like it to be short.

Protesters had yesterday clashed with security forces in various places including Khanyar,Nowhatta,Rajouri Kadal,Barzulla,Fateh Kadal,Braripora,Tatoo Ground,Hyderpora,Baghat,Rambagh,Jehangir Chowk,Maisuma,and Habbakadal,leaving many people injured.

On the deployment of the army in Srinagar,state minister and Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin said,”We requested the army to help us in maintaining peace. Peace is our first priority. They will be the supportive force we need for keeping peace.

“The district administration thinks that the army is needed to keep calm in the valley. The anger is there,” he said.

State Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar asked the people to respect the curfew restrictions.

“We will strictly implement the curfew restrictions. Government will try its best to restore normalcy. We are trying our best to normalise the situation,” he said.

Referring to stone-pelting protestors,he said,”Some elements,some agencies were getting the youths on the roads for implementing their political agenda. So we are trying our best to control the situation. It is just the question of saving the people from this situation”.

The state government has advised deputy commissioners throughout the valley to enforce prohibitory orders in their respective jurisdiction. They have also been instructed to impose curfew wherever necessary,an official spokesman said.

Police vans fitted with public address system announced imposition of curfew this morning and also advised people to remain indoors.

Curfew passes issues to journalists were cancelled.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had appealed to the people to maintain calm and not to violate curfew restrictions.