CPI(M) suggests reduction of army presence in civilian areas

The CPI(M) today suggested bringing down the presence of Army in the civilian areas and not allow the armed forces to deal with law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The army should be delinked from dealing with law and order and its footprints be reduced in civilian areas," the party said in a statement after a day-long meeting of its state unit presided over by its senior leader Sham Prasad Kesar here.
The speakers at the meeting stressed on the need for a thorough review of security situation at the highest level and demanded that the security force bunkers or outposts installed in civilian areas across the valley be removed forthwith.

Various issues of public importance, particularly the recent civilian killings in Handwara area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district and crisis at National Institute of Technology (NIT) here came up for threadbare deliberations at the meeting, the statement said.
Referring to the killing of five civilians during protests in Kupwara district last week, the CPI(M) strongly condemned the firing incident and demanded a time-bound judicial probe into these incidents.
It also demanded that the authorities ensure strict adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by security forces, particularly while dealing with any kind of law and order situation.

The party took strong exception to the "curbs" imposed on freedom of expression, especially on social media, and said there is a need for a genuine regulatory mechanism and the spirit of dissent should be respected.

"Restrictions being imposed and brutal use of force against the protesters who take to streets in support of their demands for a dignified livelihood, ration and other basic amenities should also be done away with," the party demanded.
The CPI(M) said the authorities must adopt a more "humane approach" while dealing with people who want to vent their anger against an incident of "injustice" or any "rights abuse".
On the recent crisis at the NIT here, the party said it was a result of a deliberate attempt by certain "vested interests" who wanted to bring disrepute to traditional communal harmony and pluralistic ethos of the state with the "mishandling" of the situation being a contributory factor.

"A number of non-local students of the institute who explicitly articulated their dismay at the negative reactions of vested interest to the crisis was highly appreciated.
Gestures of local students who came forward during this crisis to work towards peace and harmony in the institute was also hailed," the release said.
The party also cautioned the Human Resources Development Ministry to deal with the situation at NIT carefully and allow the college administration to sort out the issues with the students amicably.
"While the genuine grievances of the students should be addressed at the earliest, the government should also make serious efforts for the removal of security related complaints of Kashmiri students who are being harassed outside the state," it said.