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J&K police chief says 'no' to ceasefire

The Jammu and Kashmir police have not halted operations in the state and they will continue their fight against criminals during the unilateral ceasefire announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last month.

"Militants are criminals and there is no ceasefire against them," Jammu and Kashmir police chief Ashok Suri told a press conference at the heavily guarded state police control room on Friday evening.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) had on Thursday alleged that security forces were violating the Ramadan ceasefire in Kashmir.

Suri, who arrived in the morning on his first visit to the valley after taking over as director general of Jammu and Kashmir police, reviewed the situation in the valley at a series of high-level meetings.

Suri said the Jammu and Kashmir police would raid a hideout to arrest militants and recover arms if they got specific information about the presence of militants.

"We have arrested several militants over the past few days. The militants are criminals and we will continue to take action against them to maintain law and order."

"I shall not suspend operations against criminals. The prime minister has made the announcement but that does not mean that criminal activities will not be dealt with," the DGP said and added, "I repeat, militants are criminals and we will take action". He said the state police "will do its duty if its gets information about the presence of explosives, arms anywhere".

He said that if the army had information about the presence of militants anywhere, it should pass that on to the police, who would take action. "We will not wait for militants to strike if we get information. We will raid them immediately," the DGP added.

Suri, a favourite of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, was appointed in place of Gurbachan Jagat, who took over as BSF chief in Delhi.

Suri warned the militants again to either surrender and get rehabilitated or face serious consequences. The state police chief said that militants would continue to strike by carrying out car bomb explosions and bobby traps. Militants, Suri repeated, ''are criminals and they exist in large numbers and we will not wait and allow them to strike".

The DGP said that the police and security forces have been issued strict instructions not to harass innocent people while dealing with any situation.

Suri visited Barramullah to take stock of the situation. He met senior district police officials who briefed him about the latest situation.

Complete coverage of the J&K ceasefire

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