Is Ramzan ceasefire working in J&K?

Difference of opinion have surfaced in the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) over the number of stone pelting incidents during the Ramzan ceasefire in the restive state.

While the Jammu and Kashmir police have said that the ceasefire has improved the overall law and order situation, the CRPF figures point out that there have been 21 incidents of stone pelting in which three CRPF personnel have been injured and 28 vehicles were damaged in the first three days of Ramzan ceasefire, from May 17.

Police figures, however, said that there have been only six incidents of stone pelting in the first five days of ceasefire, compared to 92 incidents in the corresponding days of last month.

“The Ramzan ceasefire has been successful thus far. The initiative of the Hon’ble Prime Minister has helped improve law and order. The situation especially in south Kashmir has eased and is serving as a confidence building measure for families who want their boys to return back home,” tweeted Dr Shesh Paul Vaid, director general of police, Jammu and Kashmir.

Security forces have not launched any cordon and search operation across the Kashmir valley since the ceasefire came into force on Thursday. Since the ceasefire is not applicable to infiltrators, security forces killed four newly-infiltrated militants near the Line of Control on May 18.

However, militants have showed contempt to the ceasefire, by killing civilians, attacking security forces, looting weapons and robbing banks in the Kashmir valley.

On the first day of ceasefire, a civilian was tortured to death by Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in Hajin area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district. On the same day, militants snatched three rifles from a police guard post at Dalgate area in Srinagar.

On May 18, suspected militants barged into the J&K Bank branch at Qaimoh in Kulgam district of South Kashmir and looted Rs 3.28 lakh in broad day light. Police sources said two armed militants stormed the Bank and looted the money at gunpoint, before escaping from the scene. On Thursday night, militants attacked the patrol of 13 Rashtriya Riffles, but there was no loss of life or injuries.

Police foiled a rifle snatching attempt at Arihal in Pulwama district on Monday. Four people, including two girls, were injured when the army opened fire after an iftaar diplomacy that was held to win hearts and minds of people, which went horribly wrong at DK Pora in Shopian district on Monday.

“A large crowd instigated by the miscreants primarily consisting youth and a few women gathered outside the Masjid and surrounded the Army troops. The crowd resorted to heavy stone pelting, posing a serious threat to the safety of the troops. The troops verbally cautioned the crowd, but when the stone-pelting further intensified, they took necessary preventive measures and moved out of the area,” said Colonel Rajesh Kalia, Defence spokesman in Srinagar.

HUGE MISMATCH

• CRPF figures point out that there have been 21 incidents of stone pelting in the first three days of Ramzan ceasefire.
   
• Police figures said that there have been only six incidents of stone pelting in the first five days of ceasefire.