Kashmir readies anti-riot methods to tackle protests

JAMMU - Having faced severe criticism over its handling of last year’s summer unrest, Jammu and Kashmir has now readied new anti-riot methods, including surrounding and physically carrying away protestors, to tackle demonstrations without causing any casualties.

The state police presented a preview of the new training to the media near here Saturday.

Police personnel have been trained to chase and surround stone-throwing mobs, and physically carry away protestors. Neither bullets nor teargas shells are fired to neutralise the mobs.

This training is our shield and offensive against the stone throwers and trouble makers, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda told reporters at the training centre which has been set up at Sunjawan, on the outskirts of Jammu.

Five battalions or approximately 3,000 personnel have been trained in such anti-riot measures.

The state police chief, who has seen three summers of unrest in Kashmir (from 2008 to 2010) appeared to be satisfied by the level of training.

Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had faced a lot of criticism over their handling of last summer’s unrest in which more than 100 people, mostly youngster, were killed.