Weaken separatists, not ammunition: Kashmiri activist

Jammu and Kashmir activist Sushil Pandit on Tuesday exhorted the Centre to weaken the separatists instead of reducing the capacity of ammunition.

Pandit, who was reacting to reports suggesting that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is contemplating using plastic bullets to tame the protestors in Kashmir, termed use of plastic bullets as a 'cat and mouse game' and said it will not be of much use.

"By reducing the lethality of the ammunition, you can't take the sting out of the separatists and their intent to foment trouble. You need to address the capacity of the trouble makers instead of reducing the capacity of your ammunition," said Pandit.

He added, "There is no use of changing the ammunition until the trouble making mindset is changed."

As per reports, the plastic bullets don't penetrate into body and can be fired from INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifles.

Meanwhile, the social activist while commenting on the current unrest in Kashmir Valley said Kashmir hasn't seen its worst yet.

"The situation is deteriorating because those who have been tasked with the job of leading people as mainstream political parties are the ones who are inciting people," said Pandit.

Due to stone-pelting by the Kashmiri students, the Kashmir Divisional Commissioner had on Monday ordered to shutdown the universities, colleges and higher secondary schools across the region.

Many students and five policemen were injured on Monday when the Kashmiri students resorted to violence and pelted stones on the security forces and police to protest the alleged high-handedness against some students in Pulwama on Saturday.