'Stop the excessive restraint against stone pelters'

During a meeting of senior officials, it was said that civilians are coming in large numbers to encounter sites and causing problems for the armed personnel.

A majority of the army personnel feel that a completely different approach is needed to handle stone pelters who have been a thorn in operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 25 militants have escaped from encounter sites after stone pelters reached the spot and disrupted operations.

Many in the army feel that the policy of excessive restraint is not helping the cause. Showing excessive restraint has not ensured that the stone pelters have had a change of heart. Instead they are taking advantage of the situation and coming out in large numbers.

During a meeting of senior officials, it was said that civilians are coming in large numbers to encounter sites and causing problems for the armed personnel. The counter-insurgency operations are taking a huge hit because of this. The army has been told to show restraint in such situations and the civilians are taking advantage of the same.

It may be recalled that the Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had warned that such people would be treated as anti-nationals. He had come in for sharp criticism by the main stream media and the opposition for his remark. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had however defended his statement saying that the same was made in national interest.

A recent report showed how stone pelters in the Valley had disrupted operations of the army. Almost 25 terrorists, including the 'very' dangerous Lashkar-e-Tayiba militant Abu Dujana had managed to give the slip thanks to support from the stone pelters.

OneIndia News