New Delhi, July 1
Clearly worried over the recent spate in incidents of violence in Kashmir, the Centre has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to act tough against stone pelters and book them under serious charges, including rioting.

The state government should make appropriate use of various sections under the Ranbir Penal Code, the Centre has advised, adding that provisions of the Public Safety Act could also be evoked.

Incidents of stone throwing have rocked the Valley in the past few weeks and the Home Ministry sees a definite Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) hand behind the violence. “There is definite information of money exchanging hands in these incidents,” says a top MHA official.

According to senior Home Ministry officials, the stone pelters were not being booked under serious charges. “In most of the cases, a chargesheet is filed, and that too in a vague language. No further action is taken, as a result the culprits engage in such activities repeatedly,” said an official.

In most of the cases, no body is specifically named in the FIRs that are registered against unknown persons or a mob. “The Centre wants the state to send strong messages by booking culprits,” said sources. The “act tough” advice has already been communicated to the state that has witnessed a recent surge in incidents of stone pelting and attacks on security forces. In June alone, 11 civilian have lost their lives and as many as 53 CRPF personnel have been injured, many of them seriously. An inspector and a jawan of the CRPF have also received bullet injuries. The Central Government has asked the CRPF to exercise restraint in dealing with stone pelters and not retaliate.

Meanwhile, sources said, the investigations are on into the LeT hand behind the Valley arson. It could be linked to elements who want to sabotage the dialogue between India and Pakistan, they added.

Srinagar, July 1
Two Army soldiers were killed in an ongoing encounter with a group of infiltrators on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector of Kupwara district today.

As per Army sources, the Army personnel guarding the LoC noticed a group of heavily-armed militants trying to sneak into the Indian side yesterday and challenged it.

However, the infiltrators started firing at the Army personnel, ensuing a gunfight. Two soldiers were killed in the encounter, which is still going on. The Army said the number of the infiltrators trying to sneak in was not known.