It is sad that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is having to tackle unrest in the Kashmir Valley shortly after taking up the administration of the State (“ >More troops sent to Kashmir Valley ”, April 17). Kupwara district has always clung to a fragile peace and the act of sending in paramilitary troops to quell the smouldering violence will only aggravate the situation, given the trust deficit. Perhaps the time has come to revisit draconian provisions as far as maintaining law and order is concerned. Both the Centre and the State share the responsibility in putting an end to the festering violence.
N. Visveswaran,
Chennai
It is distressing that Kashmir is always on the boil. The security forces do not appear to be following standard operating procedure. Whenever there is a riot, there are plenty of ways in which the situation can be dealt with. Teargas and resorting to mild lathicharge are options. Even using pepper spray can be thought of. Firing at civilians is unacceptable under any circumstance.
T. Anand Raj,
Chennai
That Kashmir is perpetually on the boil is nothing new and the Centre needs to rein in trigger-happy security personnel. Unless this is done, anti-national elements will continue to use it as an opportunity to stir up more trouble. Isn’t there a code of operation for security forces to follow?
K.V. Ramesh Nair,
Chennai
