Srinagar, Aug. 28 -- Newly-appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Kashmir Zone, Sujit Kumar (IPS), on Friday asserted that anti-militancy operations remain the "first priority" of the force, even as he made a strong pitch for public cooperation during his first ground visit after taking charge.

The IPS officer, who took over the reins of the Kashmir police establishment on Thursday evening, was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his maiden on-ground assessment in the summer capital, particularly in view of the Friday congregational prayers.

"Our operations were the first priority in the past, and they remain the first priority today as well," Kumar said when asked about the recent surge in counter-insurgency operations a...