Conflict

Situation in Kashmir ‘under control’, says NDA minister, ‘Army functioning independently’

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

Srinagar: The government of India on Tuesday said that situation in Jammu and Kashmir is “under control”.

Brushing aside the criticism against Indian army’s approach to Kashmir, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, said, “the situation in Kashmir is under control.”

“The Army is working independently to tackle any situation,” he added.

“The people are seeing, what the media is reporting. The situation in Kashmir is under control and the Army is totally independent and functioning accordingly,” he said.

The minister made the statement minutes after CPI’s (M) Prakash Karat said that Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat was “reflecting the views of the Narendra Modi government” in Kashmir.

Karat added that both sides — the people of Kashmir as well as the Indian Army — would “suffer irreparable damage due to the government’s blind adherence to the use of coercive force against the civilian population”.

Meanwhile, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar visited Kashmir today.

He interacted with 45th Battalion CRPF Sumbal, ‘Cheetahs’ of 45th and 44th Battalions.

He lauded the army, while stating that the Bandipora encounter was “successful”.

“We succeeded in saving our camps. The Jammu and Kashmir Police also helped us. We have reviewed the Amarnath Yatra too,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police S P Vaid said that the Bandipora encounter was a “live example of coordinated work”.

At least four ‘militants’ were killed in retaliatory firing by 45th Battalion CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) at Sumbal in Bandipora district yesterday.

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