The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today staged a protest against the BJP-led governments in the state and the Centre and called for immediate revocation of the unilateral ceasefire following a series of attacks on security forces.
Led by JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev Singh, the protestors assembled at the Exhibition Ground and raised slogans against the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state.
Condemning the spurt in violence in the Valley, Singh warned that the situation could go out of hand, leading to more deaths and destruction, if the Centre did not revoke the ceasefire.
On May 16, the Centre had asked security forces to not launch operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan.
Asserting that the militants had proved that terrorism had no religion, the JKNPP chief said the Non-Initiation of Combat Operations (NICO) had seriously demoralized the Army.
NICO may prove to be counter-productive and provide an opportunity to the terrorists to regroup, he added.
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The protestors also denounced the central and state governments for failing to handle the situation at the border with Pakistan.
There have been a series of attacks on security personnel since last week. Earlier today, at least 16 people, including four policemen, were wounded in Shopian district when militants hurled a grenade at security forces in a busy market.
Yesterday, two BSF jawans were killed and 13 civilians injured in indiscriminate firing by Pakistani troops in Akhnoor, Kanachak and Khour sectors of Jammu.
The incidents came nearly a week after DGMOs of the two countries agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit".
The BJP was also criticised for not fulfilling its pre-poll promise of providing five marla plots (roughly 1, 360 sq.ft of land) to residents of border villages in safer places.
Singh said due to the shelling and firing by Pakistan, the border dwellers, especially women and children, were living in a terrifying atmosphere.