CCS Meets to Discuss Kashmir Situation; Pillai to Visit Srinagar

As curfew enters second day in Srinagar, the Union Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today met in New Delhi to discuss the situation in Kashmir and the Union Home Secretary GK Pillai will visit Srinagar today to review law and order, said media reports.

According to reports coming following the meeting of the CCS, the Army would be on stand-by in Srinagar.

Reports said that the state government had been asked to crack down on ‘mischief makers’.

The army was called in Srinagar after the state government made a formal request for its help in enforcing curfew and maintaining law and order after more civilian deaths and fresh clashes in the city on Tuesday.

An overnight order after consultations between the state government and the Centre cleared the use of the Army.

Reports said that Army’s primary role is to calm tension in the Valley.

Since Monday night there have been four more civilian deaths in the Valley and curfew was imposed on Tuesday as protesters clashed with security forces in many places.

Tuesday began with protests against one death. Those led to a second death and then a third and fourth and suddenly, Srinagar was back under curfew. The cycle of violence had spun out of control all over again.

(Based on internet reports)