Vijay Kumar, the chief of the Kashmir Police, has attacked mainstream politicians for “instigating” the people, even though he told the media that media and politicians have no right to label the police investigation as wrong, and the court should make that decision.

Announcing the achievements of Kashmir Zone Police at a press conference in Srinagar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, urged the politicians to refrain from instigating the public and destroying youth. As opposed to what some politicians and some media people claim, Kumar says the situation in the valley has improved in 2021.

“Some political party leaders, some section of media, keep on saying that the situation has not improved. Some have gone to the extent of saying that the situation was like 1990s. The factual data on the ground shows that whatever they are saying is wrong. There has been much improvement in the situation,” the IGP told reporters at a press conference where only selected media persons were invited.

Details were provided, he said: Two hundred and eighty-four terror incidents were reported in Kashmir in 2017, compared with 238 incidents in 2018.

“The number of civilians killed last year was 37, while it was 34 this year, even as the militants openly instigated that they will kill civilians, political workers and forces. And just to hide their terror crime, legitimise it, they call them informers. We took several preventive measures to protect the people,” he said.

Political leaders are “legitimizing” terrorist attacks on civilians and policemen, he said, adding that it is a challenge for police and security forces.

“Unfortunately, we see some politicians also legitimising the killings. What was the need to the encounter of the dreaded terrorist (TRF commander) Mehran (Shalla) with his photo and say it was cruel, there is a human rights violation. He killed many civilians”, he said.

“Is it wrong to kill a terrorist like (TRF chief) Abbas (Sheikh) in an encounter? Why show sympathy with him. This is wrong? I want to tell the politicians, request them to stop this, that this is wrong, you are destroying the youth, the society,” he added.

In response to a question about National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah calling the SIT’s investigation into the Hyderpora encounter “wrong,” as far as Kumar was concerned, while politicians have a right to demand a deeper investigation and not be satisfied with what’s being investigated, they cannot refer to it as wrong.

“This is a democratic set up and media persons, politicians and the families have the right to not be satisfied with the investigation and seek a higher-level probe thorough the NIA, CBI, High Court. We do not have any objection to that. But only court can decide whether any investigation is wrong,” he said.

An investigation by the SIT will be conducted and a chargesheet framed before it is submitted to the court for judicial review.

“A judge will decide whether the investigation is wrong or not. No politician, family member or media person can do that or say it is concocted, they have no such right,” he said.

With reference to Abdullah, Kumar explained that the NC president was once a chief minister who was responsible for the home department, so he understands what policing is.

“The court will decide that. It is not that we have given a clean chit. Our each case will be decided by court. We will not decide that. So, I request such a leader to not instigate the public. Let the court decide. If the court thinks it is wrong, it will order to reinvestigate it,” he said.

Image source: ANI