No leniency for killers of policemen: AJK IGP

Malik rejects calls for talks with 'violent anti-state elements'

MUZAFFARABAD:

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Liaqat Ali Malik has categorically rejected calls for negotiations with violent anti-state elements, warning that those responsible for killing and injuring police personnel would receive no leniency.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, the AJK police chief said there could be no compromise with those who had "brutally murdered police personnel, slit open their chests and desecrated their bodies".

He questioned the rationale behind demands for dialogue. "Can anyone even imagine sitting at the negotiating table with the killers of their brothers and such ruthless criminals?" he asked.

The IGP said several police personnel had embraced martyrdom while maintaining law and order, while many others had suffered serious bullet injuries during operations.

He stressed that it was not the police's responsibility to find political solutions; such matters are the domain of politicians. "Political solutions are always worked out with politicians. If anyone wishes to pursue politics, they are free to do so. No one is stopping them," he said.

Expressing strong resentment over calls for negotiations, Malik said it was unacceptable that, on the one hand, threats were being issued to behead security personnel and bodies were being left behind, while on the other hand, some were advocating talks.

The AJK police chief also accused violent elements of intimidating and targeting ordinary citizens.

Referring to one incident, he said a man travelling to attend his mother's funeral was allegedly abducted and had both his legs broken. "Such brutal individuals have no political solution," he said.

Malik vowed that the state would deal with those taking the law into their own hands, attacking police personnel and torturing innocent citizens with full force, adding that there would be no compromise on maintaining law and order.