New Delhi:
As Kashmir valley witnesses a fresh spurt in violence, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met on Sunday to take stock of the situation.
Sources told NDTV that in the meeting, the CCS favoured a two-pronged approach to tackle the Kashmir situation:
- Omar Abdullah should visibly reach out politically to citizens
- A harder crack down on trouble makers was also advocated
This is the second time in less than a month that the CCS has met to discuss the situation in Kashmir. At least 7 people have been killed in the Valley today in separate incidents of violence.
(Read: Kashmir: 4 killed as police station set on fire)During the meeting, reports of various intelligence agencies and views of the political parties were discussed and the inputs received from the Jammu and Kashmir government and the state Governor N N Vohra analysed.
Besides the Prime Minister, others who attended the meeting were Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony and other senior bureaucrats from Home and defence ministries.
Curfew remained clamped in violence-hit Kashmir Valley as security forces maintained a close vigil on the situation, which continued to be tense.
The CCS had earlier met on July 7 during which they discussed the Kashmir situation and had favoured "maximum crackdown" on miscreants who had contributed to deterioration of the current situation in the valley.
Meanwhile, Army and Intelligence sources have said that the protesters are devising new strategy which includes storming of police stations and outposts.
Already there have been attempts to burn down police property in Sopore, Pattan Khrew, Tral and Pampore. Police vehicles are being deliberate targetted eliciting strong response from police.
Also, the blockade of National Highway-1A is aimed at triggering a Valley vs Jammu situation. The Army is keeping close watch. (With PTI Inputs)