Voicing serious concern over the ongoing spate of violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Thursday highlighted the need to "revisit" standard operating procedures and crowd control measures by security forces to deal with public agitations.
"Despite the curtailment of militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the public order dimension in the state has become a cause of serious concern," he said addressing the three-day Conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police here.
"We need to revisit standard operating procedures and crowd control measures to deal with public agitations with non-lethal, yet effective and focused measures. We also cannot have an approach of one size fits all" the Prime Minister stressed.
His comments come against the backdrop security forces in J&K facing flak for the killing of over 60 civilians in police action to quell violent protesters since June this year.
Dr Singh asked the home minister, Mr P. Chidamabarm, to establish a high-powered task force to come out with a set of recommendations on non-lethal crowd control measures in the next two to three months.
He said that instead of single standard sequence for the use of force, other countries have put in place procedures that vary according to the situation.
The Prime Minister cited the experience of Rapid Action Force for non-lethal crowd control which has been successful saying it should be examined for being followed by other police forces also.