The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Anti-national elements at work'

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Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010
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‘Anti-national elements at work'

Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI: Expressing regret over the recent incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said there were “reliable reports” that “anti-national elements were trying to exploit the situation.”

In a statement here, he said: “Militants may also have sneaked into the Valley to trigger violence.” He appealed to the people to stand by the State government and help it restore law and order. He felt saddened that lives had been lost.

The statement came soon after an appeal for peace was made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar. Mr. Chidambaram said he endorsed “every word” of Mr. Abdullah's statement.

“The CRPF is deployed in J&K to assist the State police. Under the standard operating procedure, the CRPF and the J&K police carry out their assignments jointly. Invariably, it is the State police officer who is in charge of deployment and performance of duties assigned to the CRPF. I am told that, as far as possible, Magistrates are also present when security forces are deployed to control rioters and to restore law and order,” he said.

Mr. Chidambaram said: “I would especially appeal to parents to ensure that their children are at home when curfew is imposed. The object of imposing curfew is to ensure that crowds do not collect and stones are not thrown. The Centre will support the J&K government in its efforts to put an end to violations of curfew, stone pelting and rioting.”

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