J&K police issues advisory on encounters

Civilians residing within the radius of two Kms of an encounter site should stay inside their homes and make sure their children are indoors too, an advisory issued today by Jammu and Kashmir police said.
The advisory that is to be followed by civilians in case an encounter breaks out in their area also said that if children are outside their homes, they must be called back immediately by parents.
"(They) need not venture out as any stray bullet can hit and cause damage. The residents are also requested not to come out of their houses or peep out of the window panes," a police spokesman said.

He said Section 144 CrPC, which prohibits assembly of five or more persons, comes into force immediately at the encounter site and surrounding areas.
"The elders, chowkidars and village headmen are requested to advise people to stay away from encounter site.
"Assembly of five or more people be discouraged as it is prohibited under the provisions of this Section of CrPC," he added.

The spokesman also asked people not to rush towards the encounter site immediately after the gunfight has stopped.
"After encounter, people are requested not to rush towards encounter site as there are chances of unexploded grenades or explosives lying there.

"It should be ensured that the encounter site and area around is properly sanitised by the police or any other security agency, before people come near it," he said.
The advisory comes two days after Governor N N Vohra directed the police and other security agencies to exercise maximum restraint and take steps for avoiding collateral damage during encounters.
His directions came after two university students were killed allegedly in firing by security forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Sunday.