The Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat has said that the Army in the valley is operating with ‘people friendly rules of engagement’, reported the Press Trust of India.
“Our basic purpose is to go after militants who create violence and disturbance in the Valley. Our aim is not to cause inconvenience to civilian population who are not indulging in arson or violence,” he said on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi.
His statement comes days after Governor’s rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir.
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“There is nothing like stepping up. Army continues to operate with the formulated rules of engagement,” Rawat said when asked whether security has been stepped up in the Valley after the fall of the government.
The Army chief said in addition to the “stringent” rules of engagement, local formation commanders continuously give guidelines to soldiers as to how to operate.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, N.N Vohra had said that the Governor’s rule in the conflict-stricken state did not mean a muscular security approach, but rather better governance and more focus on development.
“I am unaware of the genesis of the [talk on the] hard line approach. The entire administrative apparatus, from the very top to the bottom shall function with efficiency, speed and accountability to serve the people and regain the trust of the common man,” he stated.
