No IS imprints in Kashmir; parents should appeal kids to shun violence: JK DGP

Jammu and Kashmir Police chief S P Vaid today asserted that there were no Islamic State imprints in the Valley, even as he expressed hope to convince parents of local militias to appeal their children to leave the path of violence and return to mainstream.

The DGP's statement came at a joint press conference of top police, Army and CRPF officials at Badamibagh Cantonment here.

On being asked about the claim of the terror group (IS) that it carried out its first attack at Zakura area in the Valley on Friday wherein a police officer was killed, Vaid said the claim was yet to be verified.

"It is yet to be verified and I do not think ISIS has any imprints here. We were able to successfully wean away more than 60 boys from taking the path of violence. We are hopeful that we will be able to convince parents of other boys to leave this path (of violence) and return to mainstream," he said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Munir Khan also ruled out the presence of ISIS in Kashmir.

Commenting on wrapping militant Mugees Ahmad Mir's body in alleged IS flag at his funeral, the IGP said, "Throw a black flag over anybody and claim (he is from) ISIS. I will not agree to what all you are saying, because it is still a subject matter of investigation.

"TuM (Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen) claimed that he (Mir) was (their) district commander. The DGP has already said that it is the subject matter of investigation," he said.

On the surrender of footballer-turned-militant Majid Khan before the Army recently following an appeal by his mother, DGP S P Vaid said it was an "encouraging trend".

"It is a very encouraging trend and I would request other mothers also to appeal to their children to leave the path of violence because we do not want anybody to get hurt," he said.