Exercise restraint while dealing with protests: Govt to forces

Jammu and Kashmir government today asked police and other security forces to exercise restraint while dealing with protests and sought the help of civil society in restoration of normalcy in Kupwara district where four persons have died during action against protesters.
"I am in constant touch with the civil and police authorities at Handwara to ensure that normalcy is restored in the area at the earliest," said Rural Development Minister Abdul Haq Khan who is camping in the Kupwara district, where the troubled area falls.
Khan last evening visited the families of those who died in action by police and security forces in Handwara and assured them that the guilty would be punished.

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, the minister said while no amount of compensation would be enough to alleviate the grief of the bereaved families over the loss of their dear ones, the government would, however, try to reach out to them with whatever can be done for them.
The Minister interacted with the members of the civil society and urged them to help restore normalcy in the town, an official spokesman said today.
Khan said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has already taken up the matter at the highest level in New Delhi and action would be taken against the forces personnel who allegedly resorted "avoidable use of force against the protesters in Handwara resulting in tragic civilian casualties".

The Minister also convened a high level meeting with the civil and the police administration to review the overall situation in the area.
"The police and other security forces have been asked to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the public protests," the spokesman said.
Kashmir, particularly Handwara town in Kupwara district, is tense over the last three days in the wake of death of three youth and a woman.