Public in Kashmir ordered to keep distance from encounter sites to avoid injury

Srinagar: On Thursday. authorities in Kashmir asked people to stay away from the places of encounters between security forces and terrorists.

The decision came a day after Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said the civilians who indulge in stone pelting during counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir would be treated as anti-nationals and dealt with accordingly.

"District Administrations of Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian advised people not to move towards or assemble near the places where encounters take place between security forces and terrorists to avoid loss and injuries to precious human lives," an official spokesperson said.

"Prohibitory restrictions have been imposed within the radius of three kilometers from the site of any counterinsurgency operation in these districts," the spokesperson added.

However, the restrictions shall not apply to the movement of ambulances, medical, paramedical staff and government employees, he said.

Recently in Bandipora, stone-pelters attacked soldiers when they were about to launch an operation against terrorists holed up in a house.

Alerted by the stone pelters, the terrorists got an opportunity to hurl hand grenades and empty a few magazines of AK-rifles into the advancing troopers, leaving three jawans dead and injuring some others, including a Commanding Officer of CRPF.