Forces in Valley acting with restraint to check collateral damage: CRPF

CRPF on Thursday said locals were under pressure from militants to help them flee in certain areas in Kashmir which was harming the anti-terror operations.

CRPF Inspector General (Operations) Zulfiquar Hasan asserted that the forces have been acting with restraint in crowded areas to check any collateral damage and the residents should not succumb to the threats of the militants.

His remarks came a day after Army chief General Bipin Rawat warned those attacking security forces during anti- militancy operations in Kashmir of "tough action".

"The casualties (of the security forces in recent operations) have taken place in crowded areas and the forces operate with restraint so that there is no collateral damage.

But the crowds break the cordon and help the militants to flee. "This is happening in certain areas of Kashmir, and villagers and local residents do this under pressure from militants," Hasan said.