‘Major successes achieved against terrorists’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 16: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh today said all arrangements have been put in place to provide safe and secure environment to the people during the upcoming polls, scheduled to begin with Municipal elections next month.
“Providing safe and secure environment to the voters is a big challenge (given the prevailing situation in Kashmir)…It is a challenge to provide such type of environment where people can come and exercise their democratic right without any fear or violence.
“We will try our best to provide conducive atmosphere to the people and we have made all preparations for the purpose,” Singh told reporters here during his first interaction after assuming charge as the DGP early this month.
As far as security situation is concerned, the State police chief said the picture is not as gloomy as is being projected.
“We have achieved major successes against terrorists in the recent past. Three terrorists, who could pose a major threat to the polls in the Valley, were killed in Jammu (on Thursday). Five more militants who had created a fear among the people in whole Kulgam district were eliminated (next day). Two more Pakistani terrorists were gunned down in Sopore (in Baramulla district on Thursday),” he said attributing the success to the support of the people.
He said it is the responsibility of the police to work for the safety of the people and “we are duty bound towards it.”
Dilbag said the deployment plan of the security forces would be in accordance with the requirement of each region – Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. “The polls are part of the democratic process and they are for betterment of the people. We are hopeful that the response of the people to the elections would be positive.”
On the threatening posters issued by terror groups especially against the policemen in Kashmir, he said it is not for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that such posters have come up in the Valley.
“We have not left our jobs as we love our job which is to serve the people of the State,” Singh said.
In response to another question about attempts by terrorists to spread their base to Jammu region, the DGP said the militancy affected districts of Jammu including Kishtwar, Doda, Reasi, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, Ramban and Poonch were declared militancy free during his tenure as Inspector General of Police, Jammu.
“Only a couple of militants were present in Kishtwar and Ramban districts. Our strategy not to call released or surrendered militants to police stations or camps but keep an eye on them paid well to keep the militancy under check in the districts for the past decade,” he said.
However, he said, the terror groups continue their efforts and reports of a few youth joining their ranks in Doda have come to fore but the situation is not alarming.
“We will redouble our efforts to counter the strategy of militancy to maintain peace in the region,” he said.
In response to another question about the killing of three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in Reasi district, he refused to share any information at this stage saying the case has been handed over to National Investigation Agency.
“The investigation of the case is going on and I will not be able to share any details as the case has been handed over to NIA,” Dilbag said.
However, he said it is a very big nexus going on for a long time and its smashing resolved many issues.
The three militants, travelling in a truck to Kashmir, were intercepted along Jammu-Srinagar National highway on Wednesday after they reported sneaked from International Border somewhere along Kathua-Samba belt and were killed after a massive search operation.
The DGP said the shortcomings are addressed as every agency is reviewing its strategy at internal level with the changing situation.
“It is certain if the system works cent percent, there would have been no militancy in Kashmir today,” he said.
On the challenge posed by growing drug menace in the State, the police chief said it is as dangerous as militancy and sought the support of the people to wipe out this evil from the society.
“We have intensified our efforts to wipe out the drug menace and have also set up rehabilitation centres across the State though it is not our duty. The whole society needs to own the responsibility and come forward to deal with the problem. The elders of a family need to keep a watch on their children,” he said.
Soon after his arrival here, the DGP visited the scene of Thursday’s encounter at Kakryal and also met 12 security personnel who were injured in the gunfight.
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