In an interview to with media Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh said the police’s intention was not to cause any harm to the youth in the long term and preventive detentions were a temporary kind of arrangement for the maintenance of law and order. There has been 3,000 cases of young men being picked up and released subsequently in the Kashmir Valley since August 5.
He said “the situation was not normal but peaceful” as there were no restrictions in place anywhere in the State. “People were cooperative as they had understood that violence doesn’t pay.”
The DGP said there was no definite timeframe for the release of political leaders or restoration of mobile phone and Internet services in the Valley.
“Detentions are a dynamic process. There are certain areas where youth come and throw stones. Our purpose is to not cause any harm to them… they are subsequently counselled and handed back to their families,” Mr. Singh said.
He said some 200 people were retained in jails as they were repeat offenders and multiple cases were registered against them.
“There are cases where an entire village would come and give assurance for a boy. A small kid cannot understand the consequences of his acts. But there are repeat offenders, you counsel them but they do not correct themselves. We cannot allow people to commit crime… but now even that number is going down. More and more people are released. Very few are in detention,” he said.
Mr. Singh said the police and security forces were exercising restraint and “pellet guns were used in almost zero cases”.
