The Jammu and Kashmir government has told the Centre that it was the Delhi-based news television channels which were portraying the State in a negative light and the situation was not that bad in the Valley.

The concerns were shared by the J&K officials during a meeting with Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who was in Srinagar to oversee security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.

‘Negative coverage’

Officials posted in south Kashmir told the Home Secretary that schoolchildren from only 4-5 institutions were involved in throwing stones at security forces and the national media portrayed it as if all the 50,000 school and college students took part in violent acts.

The Home Secretary was told that such negative coverage was a “low-cost” measure for Pakistan to stoke further violence in the Valley.

Mr. Mehrishi visited Srinagar a day after Lt. Umeer Fayaz was abducted and killed by militants.

J&K police officials also said the number of young men joining militancy had remained at 89-90, contrary to perceptions that a large number had joined the terrorist outfits. In 2015, around 60-62 youths were said to be with the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Among the locals who took up arms, 38 are under matriculate, 42 matriculate, six graduates, two postgraduates and two with technical education, Mr. Mehrishi was informed.

When Mr. Mehrishi visited a CRPF camp in Avantipura, a few jawans expressed unhappiness over the government’s ‘soft approach’ towards protesters, who threw stones at them.