Srinagar: Against the backdrop of a raging controversy over alleged fake encounters in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday gave an assurance that government will "act" to ensure that security forces respect the rights of civilians while tackling terrorism.
"I am aware of some complaints related to human rights. On this issue, the government policy is to protect the human rights of the people even when dealing with terrorism.
"The security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have been strictly instructed to respect the rights of the civilians. We will act to remove any deficiency in the implementation of these instructions," he said in his convocation address at the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
The Prime Minister's assurance comes in the context of allegations of a fake encounter in Machil area along the Line of Control where three civilians were killed reportedly by Army men. An Army jawan has been arrested, a Major has been suspended and a Colonel has been removed from Command duty in this connection.
However, the Prime Minister noted that there were a handful of people who did not want any political process for empowering people to succeed.
This was the reason that attempts to disturb the lives of the people in the valley still continued from across the line of control. Whenever such incidents happen, they spread terror and cause disruption in the lives of the people, he said.
"Our security agencies are forced to act in the wake of such incidents. During the process, sometimes innocent civilians have to suffer but whenever such incidents happen it becomes necessary to act against those responsible for them," Singh said.
Without naming Pakistan, he said he would like to "say to our neighbours across the Line of Control" that they should help in creating an environment in which people from both the sides can live in peace and harmony.
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