New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Describing the death of many youths in the stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir last summer as ‘unfortunate’, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said the home ministry has developed non-lethal techniques and standard operating procedures for responding to such protests.
He said the situation in the Kashmir valley has improved following several measures by both the central and state governments, the all-party delegation visits and the efforts of the central government-appointed interlocutors’ team.
‘The summer of 2010 saw a troubled period in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the form of protests, particularly by stone-pelters. This form of agitation generated a vicious cycle of violence. It is very unfortunate and sad that despite tremendous restraint shown by the security forces, many young people died and more than 1,500 security personnel were injured,’ Manmohan Singh said at the Chief Ministers’ Conference on internal security here.
‘As we meet today, the situation in the valley has improved, following the visit of the all-party delegation to the state, the subsequent announcement of the eight-point programme by the government and a number of positive measures jointly initiated by the government of India and the state government of Jammu and Kashmir. The team of interlocutors is also trying to reach out to various sections of the people for opening a dialogue with them,’ he said.
The prime minister said the stone-pelting by youths had drawn the attention to the need to develop non-lethal techniques and capacities within central and state police organisations to respond to such forms of public protests and associated violence.
‘I am given to understand that the ministry of home affairs has prepared standard operating procedures to this effect and these will be shared with the state governments during this conference,’ he added.
Over 100 people were killed during clashes with security forces in Kashmir during the summer of unrest last year.
