New Delhi:
As the government prepares to send an all-party delegation to Kashmir, it has decided to deal firmly with protests called by separatists in the Valley.
A new joint strategy, involving the Army and police, has been worked out. The counter-strategy, to be led by the Army, was decided on Wednesday night at a core group meeting of top security officials in Srinagar including the security advisor to the chief minister, the state police chief and top civil and military officials.
The counter-strategy is aimed at thwarting a new calendar of protests announced by Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
He has called for protests outside Army camps on September 21.
Sources have told NDTV that priority is to avoid direct confrontation between the Army and people.
NDTV has learnt that local leaders have been told to ensure that crowds don't assemble close to Army posts.
Sources also say the Army is working out a close coordinated strategy with police and the CRPF. A three-tier grid may also be put in place to control protesters.
More than 70 civilians have been killed in the last three months in Kashmir. Clashes between stone-pelters and security forces have become a near-daily feature on the streets.
On Wednesday too, even as an all-party meeting in Delhi discussed the way forward for Jammu and Kashmir, three people were killed and 15 others injured in violent protests in Jammu.
(J&K: Bandh in Rajouri, curfew in Mendhar)Wednesday's meeting on Kashmir ended, as expected, without any consensus on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had been campaigning for withdrawing AFSPA from parts of his state. That's not going to happen for now.
What has been decided at that meeting attended by leaders of all major political parties is that an all-party delegation will visit J&K soon.