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HomeIndiaJ&K DGP Dilbag Singh says de-radicalisation camps in Kashmir a good sign

J&K DGP Dilbag Singh says de-radicalisation camps in Kashmir a good sign

Announcing the killing of 3 militants, including a former policeman, DGP Dilbag Singh says any move to de-radicalise the youth ‘should be welcomed’.

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Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh Monday endorsed the views of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on setting up de-radicalisation camps in the Valley.

The DGP said it would be a “good sign”, and that moves to de-radicalise youth should be welcomed.

“For some time, Pakistan and its agencies (have been) trying to spread radicalisation in this area. Some of our youth have got affected. If any such facility comes up in Kashmir, it would be a good sign,” Singh said at a press conference in Srinagar, on being asked about the CDS’ views.

Singh added that “good people from the civil society” should be involved in the process of de-radicalising Kashmiri youth.

“When we catch some people at our level, they (detainees) don’t seem to be talking much sense at times. Some sensible arrangement (needs to be) made where good people from civil society and experts dealing with the subjects and relevant aspects of the religion and other things are dealt with. That kind of thing should be welcomed,” the DGP said.

“It would definitely help people, especially those who have gone astray,” he added.


Also read: J&K Police now deploys drones to map Srinagar and conduct ‘surveillance’ in Valley


What CDS had said

Last week, General Rawat had sparked a major debate when he spoke about setting up de-radicalisation camps in Kashmir, similar to those set up by some state governments in Maoist-affected areas.

Talking about overall radicalisation, Rawat had said it is important to get to the nerve of the issue and see who is radicalising people.

“You can start isolating these people gradually. And then start a counter-radicalisation programme by identifying people who have been radicalised to what degree,” he said, underlining that it is important to separate them according to the degrees of radicalisation.

“In Kashmir, we saw radicalisation happening. Today, we are seeing radicalisation happening even among young people. Girls and boys as young as 10 and 12 are now being radicalised. These people can still be isolated from radicalisation in a gradual way,” Gen. Rawat said.

“But there are people who have been completely radicalised. These people need to be taken out separately. Possibly taken into some de-radicalisations camps. We have got de-radicalisations camps running in our country. Let me tell you that even Pakistan is doing the same,” he had said.

Policeman-turned-militant killed

The DGP held the press conference to release information about a recent encounter in south Kashmir’s Shopian region, where three militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed. The police said the slain militants were Waseem Wani, Jahangeer and Adil Sheikh.

Sheikh was a former special police officer, who was posted with former Wachi MLA Aijaz Mir until 29 September 2018. Then, he decamped from the Jawahar Nagar government quarters allotted to Mir with seven AK-47s and a pistol to join the Hizbul Mujahideen. He had subsequently been part of several militant activities, including the killing of four policemen, officials said.

Asked about the J&K Police’s view on killing policemen-turned-militants, DGP Singh said: “Whoever goes against the law has to face the consequences.”

The killing of Sheikh comes days after another policeman-turned-militant Syed Naveed was arrested along with J&K Police DSP Davinder Singh on the way to Jammu. Singh is believed to have been ferrying the militants, and now stands accused of performing duties on the directions of Hizbul Mujahideen.

Speaking about Davinder Singh’s arrest, the DGP added that the case had been handed over to the National Investigation Agency, but the police were ready to probe his alleged involvement in past crimes, such as extortion and corruption.

DGP Singh also said the police had observed an increase in the physical movement of militants after the arrest of Syed Naveed and Davinder Singh, and had been able to conduct multiple operations and bust militants’ hideouts, some of which were made possible by Davinder and Naveed’s arrests.


Also read: Not a lone black sheep: Why J&K Police, Army and CAPF will have more like DSP Davinder Singh


 

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1 COMMENT

  1. How was the de-radicalisation in Uri and Pathankot Camps?

    It is funny when these terrorists who are being ruled by a religious radical Hindu party, jokers call others as radicals and terrorists.

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