When security forces are engaged in conflict with terrorists/infiltrators, their effectiveness is impeded by stone-pelters, who actively attack the members of the Forces with stones, grenades, petrol bombs or other weapons. In the last 20 years, stone-pelting has caused injuries to 6,000 security forces personnel in J&K. In J&K, the security forces are fighting armed terrorists, who are using stone-pelters as voluntary human shields. First, the armed forces may refrain from attacking due to moral concerns about harming the stone-pelters. Second, if the armed forces kill stone-pelters in retaliatory firing, it furthers the separatists’ cause.

Source: dna April 12, 2018 02:53 UTC