The administration has sealed five residential houses in Srinagar for allegedly providing shelter to militants, a senior official has said. The action has been taken under the UAPA Act. “These are the houses where it has been proved beyond doubt that they were used for militancy and the shelter or harbour was voluntarily or knowingly given by the house members,” a police official said.

Many attacks on civilians and security forces were conspired and planned by militants while using these houses as hideouts, the police said.

Two of these houses are located in Lawaypora, and one each in Maloora, Batamaloo and Harwan localities in Srinagar. “More such houses have been identified and any wilful harbouring will be dealt with the full force of law,” the police said.

Officials have urged the people not to harbour or give shelter to militants, failing which they will be “forced to take resort to attachment proceedings”. In case of any forced or coercive entry by militants into any house, the police said the matter should be brought to its notice immediately.

Meanwhile, DGP Dilbag Singh has said J&K has been facing multiple challenges on the security front and the police are competent to deal with multiple security challenges to ensure the safety of the people. The police were in the process of upgrading its technology he said on the sidelines of flagging off a fleet of 213 retrofitted motorbikes for the police field unit. (With inputs)

Courtesy: The Tribune India :28th July , 2022