Youths who storm the encounter sites in the Valley to hurl stones at security personnel are committing suicide, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said and appealed to them to refrain from such activity.
"In the encounter, even security forces and police take cover of a bulletproof vehicle or a house. Youths coming to the encounter sites are committing suicide," Director General of Police S P Vaid told reporters here. He appealed to the youngsters not to rush to the encounter sites, saying they were being misled and misused by elements inimical to peace in the Valley for their short-term political gains.
"A bullet does not know whom it will hit. My appeal to all the young boys is that they should remain in their homes and not come to encounter sites. The youth must understand that they are being used by people for their short-term political gains," he said.
The DGP said the inimical elements were misusing social media to instigate the youths to hurl stones at security forces to help militants flee.