Kashmir situation peaceful as people want it to be so not because of COVID impact: Top army commander

The past year has been one of the most peaceful in Kashmir with all parameters of violence on a decline as people want it to be so, a top Army officer said on Monday, rejecting suggestions that the Covid pandemic has led to the “quiet” situation.

General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the Srinagar-based XV Corps, Lt Gen B S Raju, said the ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan was a conscious call by both the countries and the task at hand is to make it successful.

“The year 2020 has been one of the most peaceful times. The situation in the valley remains fairly normal. All the parameters of violence, be it stone-pelting, agitations or bandhs, have shown a dip,” said Lt Gen Raju, who will take charge as the new Director General of Military Operations.

He said while many people would want to believe that the situation in the Valley was “quiet” due to the pandemic, “it is not (the case)”.

“It is quiet because people want it to be quiet. If something good is happening, it is because the people want it to be,” he said. — PTI