MHA treads carefully, stays mum

As J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah lashed out at CISF jawans for the death of a class 12th student, the security establishment in Delhi went into an overdrive on Tuesday to back Abdullah who is trying to ensure that the violence does not spark mass street protests. HT reports.

As J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah lashed out at CISF jawans for the death of a class 12th student, the security establishment in Delhi went into an overdrive on Tuesday to back Abdullah who is trying to ensure that the violence does not spark mass street protests.

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The CISF and the home ministry have been careful not to contradict the CM who argued the jawans did not have protection under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
The CISF, however, has told the government that the death of the civilians was unfortunate but the jawans had fired in self-defence, only after the mob ransacked their control room.

The CISF D-G will submit a report to home secretary on the incident after his return from J&K on Wednesday.

Incidentally, a 2011 circular by CISF headquarters had also reminded its personnel that they were empowered to take any act conducive to secure the installation under their charge without waiting for the local police to arrive.

A CISF official also said the jawans deployed in disturbed areas of J&K were covered under Afspa, pointing that a decision on invoking protection for the jawans will only be taken after the report is submitted.