‘Real conspirators of Kashmir violence sitting across border’

Kolkata, Aug 20 (PTI) Former Army chief General ShankarRoy Chowdhury has said the real conspirators and perpetratorsof Srinagar violence are sitting across the border. "One thing we must remember, the real conspirators andperpetrators of Srinagar street violence are sitting acrossthe border. Our central police forces (CRPF) are combating thesituation and so far my knowledge goes the army has not beeninvolved," he told PTI on the sidelines of a symposium herelast evening. "Yes there had been reports of army having gone tosearch an area on specific tip-off, in a hostel but these areexceptional cases," he said. "Barring certain exceptional situations whereviolence cannot be controlled first by the police and centralparamilitary forces, then Army may be called only as the lastresort," he said. Asked about the situation in Kashmir, he said, "Sincemy days and till this date and in future as well the avowedprinciple and policy of this country has been, is and will benot to allow any division and we will all unitedly fight anybid to effect another partition. That will not be allowed,"Chowdhury said. The former army chief spoke at the symposium onJapanese thinker Dr Daisuku Ikeda’s 2016 peace proposal’Universal Respect for Human Dignity: The Great Path toPeace’. "There had been instances of attack on human dignity aseveryday news reports flash in papers and it happened in mycountry, right in my city where I grew up. It has in manycases affected me and people of my generation," he said. Chowdhury said his education in value system of humanbeings fortunately had been shaped with his stint in IndianArmy. Curfew remained in force in Srinagar district today andtwo south Kashmir towns even as normal life in the Valley wasparalysed for the 43rd day today due to unrest in the wake ofkilling of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. As many as 64 persons including two cops have been killedin the clashes that began on July 9. PTI SUS SUN KKASV