Mehbooba asks security agencies to undertake youth counseling

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India]. Apr 25 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today directed the security agencies to undertake youth counselling and ensure that no collateral damage takes place while dealing with day to day law and order situations. She specifically directed that culprits be brought to justice if found involved in harassing a community or section of society in the name of a social cause. Chairing a meeting of Unified Headquarters here today, the Chief Minister directed the security agencies to improve the Public-Security Force interface and make it a regular affair. She said holding of counselling sessions for youth would not only help the youth ally apprehensions and misgivings about the system but would also give the security agencies a chance to reach out to people through community policing. The Chief Minister directed the security agencies to exercise restraint while dealing with provocative situations. She added wherever restraint was exercised, it showed positive results on the ground for the government and helped in maintaining peace and order. She said the youth unfortunately caught in the cycle of misinformation and violence are our own who ought to be won over with a healing touch. Mehbooba said the youth engagement should be prioritized rather than viewing it as a routine law and order issue. She directed that care should be taken to avoid and minimize all collateral damage while conducting operations. She also directed that parents of youth be taken into confidence as and when there is some complaint about any youth and in no way should the family be held accountable for the deeds of the said youth. The Chief Minister directed the security agencies to ensure that inter community harmony and amity among various sections of society is maintained at all costs. She directed that culprits be brought to justice if found spreading hatred against a section of society or in the name of a social cause and if need be strict provisions of law be slapped on such hate mongers who are found taking law into their own hands. The meeting also deliberated upon the latest security and law and order situation obtaining in the state. Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Chief Secretary B. R. Sharma, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister B B Vyas, Principal Secretary, Home, R. K. Goyal, Director General of Police, Dr. Sheesh Pal Vaid; GoC in C of Northern Command, Lt. Gen. Devraj Anbu; Corps Commanders of various Army formations operating in the State; Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu; senior officers of CRPF, BSF and Jammu and Kashmir Police were present in the meeting. The meeting was held after Mehbooba returned from New Delhi where she discussed the situation in the Kashmir Valley with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The meeting comes in the backdrop of the student unrest that has spilled over to the streets of Kashmir over the past week and the killing of a ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Pulwama on Monday. (ANI)