The Central government has said there are reliable reports to suggest that anti-national elements are trying to exploit the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
"There are reliable reports that anti-national elements are trying to exploit the situation. Some militants may also have sneaked into the valley to trigger violence," Home Minister P Chidamabaram said on Tuesday.
The home minister made an appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to stand by the state government and help it to restore law and order.
"I would specially appeal to parents to ensure that their children are at home when curfew is imposed," he said.
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir must reflect on the nature of the challenge faced by the security forces. Nevetheless, I have today reiterated the instructions to the Central Reserve Police Force to observe maximum restraint while dealing with the rioters and stone-pelters," he said.
Chidamabaram said the central government would support the J&K government in its efforts to put an end to violations of curfew, stone-pelting and rioting," he said.
He said: "I have just heard the statement made by (Chief Minister) Omar Abdullah and I endorse every word of that statement. The incidents that have taken place in J&K in recent days, including today, are deeply regrettable. I am particulalry saddened by the fact that lives have been lost. The CRPF is deployed in J&K to assist the state police."
Chidambaram said under the Standard Operating Procedure, the CRPF and the J&K police carry out their assignments jointly.
"Invariably, it is the state police official who is in charge of the deployment and performance of duties assigned to the CRPF. I am told that as far as possible magistrate are also present when the security forces are deployed to control rioters and to restore law and order," he said.
