Militants responsible for destruction in Valley: BJP

Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 16

While regretting the loss of civilian lives in the Pulwama encounter on Saturday, the BJP said the firing by security forces was apparently inevitable as the mob had resorted to stone-throwing and had taken law into its hands.

Chief spokesman of the state BJP Sunil Sethi said the loss of civilian lives in firing was a matter of concern but the responsibility of such deaths lies with separatists and supporters of militants, including mainstream political parties which are playing second fiddle to separatists.

He said with the mainstream parties not playing their role but running away from their democratic responsibilities, the youth have been left to the mercy of propaganda of separatists and militants. Under mistaken belief, youth gather at encounter sites to help trapped militants escape, without realising that the death and destruction in the Valley was caused by militants and their nefarious activities, he said.

Sethi further noted that the security forces generally used utmost restraint in encounters but when a large number of people come out to rescue militants, their choice becomes limited.

‘Matter of concern’ 

Chief spokesman of the state BJP Sunil Sethi said the loss of civilian lives in firing was a matter of concern but the responsibility of such deaths lies with separatists and supporters of militants, including mainstream political parties