Kashmir attack: Did Omar govt order kill jawans?

New Delhi, March 14: Why five

were killed in Wedensday's attack in

? They were unarmed and could not respond to the surprise attack.

The jawans were not carrying their standard guns as the state administration has forbidden the paramilitary forces from carrying any weapons while patrolling the streets of Srinagar.

The orders against arms display came last month after four young men were killed during protests against the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

The CRPF says only 8,300 of the 25,000 personnel deployed in Srinagar, roughly one-third of the strength, were mandated to carry weapons.

The state government order was issued to show semblance of peace in Srinagar. It felt that the armed men on the streets instilled fear in the minds of citizens.

What went against the CRPF was that it agreed not to carry arms while the other paramilitary group in the valley, the BSF rejected it.

Realising the mistake on arms order, CRPF Director Geneal Pranay Sahay rushed to Srinagar to meet his commanders in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, media reports quoted eminent lawyer Harish Salve saying that the order to paramilitary forces to disarm was prima facie illegal.

"CRPF has its own Act and own chain of command. I don't think Jammu and Kashmir Police has powers to act in this way," Salve has said, adding, "Yes, the police can only take such steps in a specific mob situation."

"The police cannot tell CRPF to simply drop arms... We have paid a price for such an order. This needs to be resolved at the earliest. Forces are working at cross purposes. God be with Jammu and Kashmir if this is how they will function," he was quoted in the media.

OneIndia News