Indian Army, police investigating reasons their men join militants in Kashmir

[Madplayer]

Jammu and Kashmir police and Indian army were separately investigating cases of policemen and soldiers who have joined the militant ranks in recent years in Kashmir after decamping with their service weapons, officials said.
Since 2015, at least nine instances of government forces’ personnel have deserted to join the militants, mostly Hizbul Mujahideen group.

Two policemen and a soldier fled their respective units to join Hizb since the beginning of this year.
“This is not a fresh trend. There is nothing alarming about it,” inspector general of police (IGP) Kashmir range, Swayam Prakash Pani told Greater Kashmir.
“We are looking into it and will find out the reasons and accordingly take measures to prevent it.”
In most cases the policemen and soldiers announced their rebellion by posting their photographs on social media, brandishing weapons, just like those local youth who join militant ranks.
According to police officer majority of the policemen who have taken the extreme step to decamp along with their service riffles belong to southern districts of Kashmir province.
“We have started internal probe to find out reasons that pushes cops to join militancy. Though some reasons are obvious,” the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Southern Kashmir has been in the throes of azadi protests constantly since the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani in July 2016.
Police believe it is the prevailing conditions in the area that force “some boys to pick up arms.”
“We know all is not well in southern Kashmir. There are obviously some factors that force either newly recruits or cops in service to join militant ranks,” said a senior police officer.
“One major factor is that they belong to south Kashmir.”
Police have directed all the district police chiefs across Kashmir province to keep an eye on the “behaviour of cops” to ensure incidents of policemen joining militancy doesn’t become a trend.
“It is the behaviour that says it all. So we are aware and keeping a close watch on boys who show change in their actions,” another police officer said, declining to be identified.
However, officials dismiss reports that Hizb had cast a net to lure “trained cops and soldiers” to train new recruits.
“I don’t think there is anything like that,” Pani said.
The Army too has started internal investigations into reasons of Kashmiri soldiers joining militancy, but officers say it’s not “a big issue.”
“We need to see the performance of Kashmiri soldiers who are performing their duties with zeal and zest in Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI),” a senior army officer at 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar said, wishing anonymity.
He said the respective units “are busy analysing possible reasons” responsible for the change of mind in a few soldiers.
“Their respective commands and units are on job as it’s the rule (in the army),” the officer said.

Source : http://m.greaterkashmir.com/news/fr...-reasons-their-men-join-militants/284664.html

 

[Madplayer]

Azadi not possible, you can’t fight us: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat to Kashmiri youth

The Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat, in a message to Kashmiri youth, has said that Azadi [freedom] is not possible as “we will always fight those who seek Azadi”, a media report said today.
Rawat said the forces haven’t been “so brutal” and asked the Kashmiri youth to look at Syria and Pakistan and see “how they are using tanks and air power in similar situations,” reported Indian Express.

Gen Rawat, according to the report, expressed concern over Kashmiri youth “picking up the gun” and said they were being misled to believe “this path will bring Azadi”.
“I want to tell Kashmiri youth that Azadi isn’t possible. It won’t happen. Don’t get carried away unnecessarily. Why are you picking up weapons? We will always fight those who seek Azadi, those who want to secede. (Azadi) is not going to happen, never,” he said.
On the number of militants being killed in the gunfights, he said: “These numbers don’t matter to me because I know this cycle will continue. There are fresh recruitments happening. I only want to stress that all this is futile, nothing is going to be achieved by them. You can’t fight the Army”.
Gen Rawat said that he is perturbed by the killings. “We don’t enjoy it. But if you want to fight us, then we will fight you with all our force. Kashmiris have to understand that the SFs (security forces) haven’t been so brutal — look at Syria and Pakistan. They use tanks and air power in similar situations. Our troops have been trying their level best to avoid any civilian casualty despite huge provocation,’’ he said.
“I don’t understand why people are coming out in huge numbers to disrupt our operations. Who is inciting them? If they want that the militants aren’t killed, they should go and tell them to come out without their weapons so that nobody is killed,’’ he said. “Let anyone of them say — mein le kay aata hun (I will bring him out). We will halt our operation.”
He said that the youth by pelting them with stones are “inciting security forces to become more aggressive.”
General Rawat said that he understands that “there isn’t a military solution to this issue”. “This is why we want politicians, political representatives to go into villages especially in South Kashmir to talk to people. But they are scared that they will be attacked,’’ he said. “It will happen once there is calm. And we are hopeful that people will soon realize that all this is futile and start thinking differently”.
The Army chief said he is “ready to suspend” military operations to avoid civilian casualties. “But who will guarantee that there won’t be fire at our men, at our vehicles? Who will guarantee that policemen, political workers, our men returning home on leave aren’t attacked, aren’t killed?’’ he asked.

Source : http://m.greaterkashmir.com/news/ka...ral-bipin-rawat-to-kashmiri-youth/284722.html

 

[Madplayer]

Omar Abdullah hits out at Mehbooba after BJP rejects Ramadhan truce in Kashmir

Launching a scathing attack on chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday questioned the calling of an all-party meet following her ally, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rejection of her demand for Ramadhan truce in Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir spokesperson of the BJP, Sunil Sethi has reportedly said that his party is in “complete disagreement” to consider a unilateral ceasefire during the month of Ramadhan.

We are in complete disagreement and the chief minister cannot pressure us on this. It is not going to do any good. The Army’s operations to neutralize militants have been successful. We cannot appeal to the Centre to go down on its knees. Talks happen when both parties are on equal ground,” Sethi was quoted by New Delhi based news portal The Print as having said.

After conclusion of all party meet in Srinagar yesterday, Mehbooba had said all parties vouched for “unilateral ceasefire on the lines of Vajpayee” at the all party meet.

Taking to micro blogging website, Twitter, Omar said :“What was the point of @MehboobaMufti calling an all party meeting to build a consensus around initiatives in Kashmir when her ally in the Govt doesn’t agree with her! Yet she will shamelessly cling to power because that’s all that matters to her”.

Source : http://m.greaterkashmir.com/news/ka...rejects-ramadhan-truce-in-kashmir/284738.html

 

[PakLFC]

By "their men" do they mean Indian army or Kashmiris?

 

[Madplayer]

By "their men" do they mean Indian army or Kashmiris?

The Indian army and policemen serving in Kashmir.