The Army Chief said that in addition to "stringent" rules of engagement, local formation commanders continuously give guidelines to soldiers as to how to operate.
There is nothing like "stepping up" and there are no brutal security operations in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Friday. He was responding to a question if the force has stepped up operations since the restive state was placed under Governor's rule on June 20.
He asserted that the Army follows "people-friendly rules of engagement" during anti-terror operations in the state to ensure there is no inconvenience to the local population.
There has been talk of a "muscular approach" to tackle terrorism in J&K after BJP pulled the plug on the PDP-led government in "national interest", in the wake of rising cases of violence.
"Our basic purpose is to go after terrorists who create violence and disturbance in the Valley. Our aim is not to cause inconvenience to civilian population which is not indulging in arson or violence," he said on the sidelines of an event here.
It is the fourth time that the state has been placed under Governor's rule in the last one decade, after BJP withdrew support to its alliance partner, forcing Mehbooba Mufti to resign as Chief Minister.
The Army Chief said that in addition to "stringent" rules of engagement, local formation commanders continuously give guidelines to soldiers as to how to operate.
"Our rules of engagement are very people friendly and we conduct operations in a very people-friendly manner. And motivated reports that the Indian Army is carrying out brutal operations in Kashmir is not true," he said.
He made the comments while interacting with a group of school students, including five girls, from Baramullah and other neighbouring regions of the Valley. They visited him here at South Block as part of a national integration tour.
"The message we want these children to go back with is that if terrorist activities and stone pelting stops in Kashmir, it too can prosper like Delhi or other big cities, and perhaps can do even better," he said.
His comments come days after he rejected a recent UN report on alleged human rights violations in Kashmir as "motivated", and said the Indian Army's record in this regard was "absolutely above board".
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