Protesters pelting stones and flouting curfew have been clashing with security forces in Kashmir
Highlights
- Bring back calm to the Valley within a week, Rajanth Singh told forces
- More troops have been deployed to strengthen counter insurgency grid
- 78 people have been killed since encounter of terrorist Burhan wani
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed the security forces to crack down on those instigating violence and choreographing stone pelting mobs in Kashmir.
Chairing a high-level meeting in Delhi - also attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and intelligence chiefs - Mr Singh said schools and colleges in the Valley must be reopened within a week and students should attend without fear.
The Home Minister also met Nabeel Ahmad Wani, the boy from Udhampur, who topped the Border Security Force or BSF exam and will be joining border guarding force as a commandant.
As Mr Singh reviewed the security situation in the troubled region, the army and local police foiled infiltration attempts in Anantnag's Nowgam and Poonch districts in four separate encounters, killing seven terrorists. A police officer was also killed.
Sources said Mr Singh has asked the security forces and intelligence agencies to try and bring back calm to the Valley within a week.
Last week, more troops were deployed to strengthen the counter insurgency grid and go after instigators in the Valley, which has been marred by violent protests since the death of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in July. 78 people have been killed in clashes since and nearly 10,000 have been injured including security personnel.
Security agencies have told government that much of the protests and stone pelting coincided with terrorist infiltration, among the highest in 2015-2016 in years.