Top cop of Kashmir, Shesh Paul Vaid has claimed that the Ramzan ceasefire which was announced by the Government of India recently, has been ‘successful thus far.’
However, the MoS in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh has said ‘that ensuing violence since the announcement only proves that the militants indulge in violence because of foreign influence and not government action.’
Reacting to the various incidents of stone pelting and gunfights which took place since the announcement of the ceasefire, Singh said, “It only shows that people who follow Islam do not have any conviction to follow the tenets of Quran, the sanctity of Ramzan and therefore, I am proud that forces are taking retaliatory measures. Then you cannot blame our forces,” he said.
Vaid in a tweet said that the situation in the valley, especially in the South Kashmir has ‘eased which is serving as a confidence building measure for families who want their boys to return back home.’
The Ramzan ceasefire has been successful thus far. The initiative of Hon’ble PM has helped in general improvement in law & order. The situation especially in south Kashmir has eased & is serving as confidence Building Measure for families who want their boys to return back home.
— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) May 22, 2018
Earlier, Vaid had said that the families of the local militants should take advantage of the Ramzan ceasefire and persuade their sons to shun militancy.
Taking advantage of fresh initiative of GOI during Ramadan, families of local militants should urge their sons to leave path of violence & join them to live peacefully . Wish them good luck
— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) May 17, 2018
However, on Monday, Four girls were injured, one of them critically, after armed forces fired into a gathering of villagers who were objecting to the army setting up a stall for Iftaar in Shopian.
34 Rashtriya Rifles battalion of the army had set up an Iftaar refreshment stall outside a mosque in DK Pora, Imam Sahab area of Shopian. However, local residents said they objected to the stall set up by the army without informing them.
This triggered a heated exchange between the people and the involved soldiers, which soon morphed into a protest. The people were asking the soldiers to remove the stall and made announcements from mosque loudspeakers.
Following the announcement, the residents, including women and children, came out of their homes and joined the protest.
Armed forces opened fire, injuring the four girls, including 15-year-old Shobi Jan daughter of Abdul QayoomHajam who was rushed to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar, Soura, for treatment. She sustained a bullet injury in her shoulder.
However Al Umar Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba have rejected the Ramzan ceasefire initiative.
