Ensure lives of civilians protected: Mehbooba to armed forces

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday advised security forces to strictly follow the laid down standard operating procedures (SOP) while carrying out anti-militancy operations and ensure there is no collateral damage.

She reviewed security and law and order situation on Tuesday at a high-level meeting of officials.

An official statement issued here said the Chief Minister impressed upon all the security agencies to work in synergy to ensure that the SOPs should be strictly adhered to and these are not violated or overlooked.

"Every aberration in this regard, she reminded the officers, amounts to furthering the evil designs of elements inimical to peace in the state.

"The Chief Minister advised heads of all security agencies to ensure that no collateral damage is allowed to happen during security operations and care should be taken that common masses are not put to inconvenience during these operations," the statement said.

Mufti asked the heads of civil, police, Army and other security agencies to maximise their public outreach to ensure that the grievances of people on the ground are listened to and addressed promptly.

"The Chief Minister was briefed by heads of various security and intelligence agencies about the prevailing security situation in the state, particularly the Kashmir Valley."

Senior civil, police, Army and Intelligence Department officials attended the meeting which was held against the backdrop of Sunday's Shopian gunfight in which two militants and four civilians were killed.

--IANS

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