*NSA briefs PM, J&K submits report to MHA
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 11: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh twice held a high-level review of security situation in the Kashmir valley at his North Block office today in which top brass of Home Ministry, para-military forces and Intelligence agencies’ heads and other senior officers dwelt upon the strategy to prevent yesterday’s like attack on Amarnath Ji pilgrims in the Valley during the yatra, which would last till August 7.
After the first review of security, the Union Home Ministry deputed a high-level delegation comprising Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir and Joint Secretary (J&K), MHA, Gyanesh Kumar to the Kashmir valley for security review with top brass of the Government, inter-acting with Amarnath Ji pilgrims and yesterday’s injured and suggesting measures to be taken for providing fool-proof security to the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir Himalayas.
The Government of India delegation met Governor NN Vohra, who is also Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and then presided over security review meeting, which was attended by top brass of police, civil adminstration, para-military forces and Intelligence officials among others.
Sources told the Excelsior that the Centre has taken serious note of the terrorist attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims despite deployment of largest ever number of para-military personnel for safety and protection of the yatris and called for finding out lapses as the bus carrying yatris was travelling in highly disturbed South Kashmir without any security cover. “But for the alertness displayed by the bus driver, for which he has been rewarded by the Governor and the Chief Minister, the casualty figure would have been much higher,” they said, adding the Centre wants responsibility of the attack fixed and action taken as the militants managed to carry out the dastardly attack despite such a massive presence of security personnel.
Rajnath Singh held first high-level security review meeting on Kashmir at 10 am, which was attended by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, top officers of MHA, heads of para-military forces and Intelligence agencies. The top officers were understood to have briefed the Home Minister on the circumstances, leading to the attack including violation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), fixed for the yatris vehicles and failure of police authorities to adhere to it.
Besides deputing three-member high level delegation to the Kashmir valley for “detailed assessment of the situation” especially for ensuring smooth pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Ji shrine for remaining 27 days, Rajnath is reported to have called for taking all possible measures for providing fully security cover to the yatris along all routes and tracks used by the yatris for reaching the cave shrine.
Sources said Rajnath Singh categorically directed all security agencies operating in Kashmir valley to identify and hunt down the terrorists responsible for carrying out attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims and also take all pre-emptive measures against the terror groups, who could be plotting to carry out more such attacks, targeting the pilgrims.
They added that a clear direction from the Government of India has gone to all security and Intelligence agencies operating in Kashmir to ensure safety and security of the pilgrims at any cost. The security agencies were told that even if some more manpower was required, the Home Ministry was ready to give that too.
The Union Home Minister held another round of security review meeting at 5 pm today after receiving a detailed report on the terror attack from Jammu and Kashmir Government.
Sources said the State Government has submitted a report to the MHA listing detailed sequence leading to attack on the Amarnath yatris bus, which was returning from Sonamarg to Anantnag and was targeted by the militants, killing seven pilgrims and injuring scores of others.
The State Government is reported to have admitted that the yatris bus was without security as it was left behind due to tyre puncture. It has also maintained that casualty figure could have been higher but the driver managed to take vehicle two kilometers away to an Army camp at Khanabal, after which the attackers fled away.
The Government report reportedly mentioned that the bus had been targeted from the front and that 18 pilgrims bore brunt of the attack.
“The bus carrying the Amarnath pilgrims was attacked twice in quick succession by two teams of terrorists, who escaped after spraying bullets from automatic rifles,” the State Government report said.
It added that the bus had a flat tyre at a place called Sangam in Anantnag district while going from Srinagar to Jammu, delaying the entourage by about an hour.
After the bus resumed its onward journey, it came under attack from a group of terrorists at Botengo, Khanabal around 2017 hours yesterday.
Facing the bullets, the driver of the bus, Salim Sheikh, charged past the area but had to face another group of terrorists after crossing just 75 meters.
The State Government report said the driver again did not stop the bus despite facing the terrorist attack for the second time in quick succession.
The bus was finally stopped at a police point after a few kilometers and the policemen on duty took the pilgrims to the Anantnag police line where the injured were given first aid before being shifted to a hospital, it said.
According to the report, most of the pilgrims received injuries in legs, nose and shoulders.
Sources said after the first security review meeting in the morning, NSA Ajit Doval briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on last night’s attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims. He was also said to have apprised the Prime Minister about steps taken for safety and security of the pilgrims and certain other aspects of the situation in the Valley.
Meanwhile, in a series of tweets on Amarnath yatra attack, Rajnath Singh asserted that all Kashmiris were not terrorists and said it was his job to ensure peace and tranquility in all parts of the country.
Singh said he saluted the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who had condemned the attack on Amarnath pilgrims and kept the spirit of Kashmiriyat alive.
The assertion by the Home Minister that all Kashmiris were not terrorists came in response to a tweet from an “Editor of Make My Trip”, a travel portal, which raised questions on his comment that the people of Kashmir had strongly condemned the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims and that it showed the spirit of Kashmiriyat was very much alive.
Replying to the Home Minister, Suchi Singh Kalra, who by using a derogatory word, told Singh that no one cared about whether Kashmiriyat was alive or not in Jammu and Kashmir but needed strong action from him against the terrorists responsible for yesterday’s attack.
Singh responded: “Ms Kalra I certainly do. It is absolutely my job to ensure peace and tranquility in all parts of the country. All Kashmiris are not terrorists.”
In the Twitter profile, Kalra claimed to be an editor of the “Make My Trip”. However, soon Kalra deleted the twitter account.
Earlier, the Home Minister said he saluted the people of Jammu and Kashmir who had condemned the attack on Amarnath pilgrims and kept the spirit of Kashmiriyat alive.
The attack on Amarnath pilgrims in which seven people were killed was a “cowardly act of terror” but it was heartening to see the whole nation stand united against terrorism, Rajnath said.
“I am pained at the loss of lives of Amarnath pilgrims. But I salute the people of Kashmir as all sections of society have condemned the attack,” he added.
Singh also tweeted: “It shows the spirit of Kashmiriyat is very much alive.”
Singh described the attack on Amarnath pilgrims as very “unfortunate and painful”.
Meanwhile, the high-level Government delegation comprising Union Ministers Dr Jitendra Singh, Hansraj Ahir and Joint Secretary MHA Gyaneshwar, soon after their arrival in Srinagar this afternoon visited SKIMS at Soura and inquired condition of two injured pilgrims of Shri Amarnath ji yatra. One of the injured belonged to Maharashtra and another to Gujarat. The delegation was the first to visit the injured as no one from the State Government had met them earlier. They assured full treatment to the injured.
The delegation had separate meetings with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in which they discussed the future strategy for ensuring peaceful pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath ji shrine. The Governor and the Chief Minister gave their assessment of the situation to the Central delegation.
Later, the delegation had high-level security review meeting with top officials of police, para-military forces and Intelligence agencies in Srinagar and called for taking all requisite steps for safety and security of the pilgrims, elimination of the militants responsible for the attack and taking steps to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to target the yatris in future.
The security officials gave detailed assessment of the situation to the Central delegation.
Chief Secretary B B Vyas, DGP Dr S P Vaid, CRPF DG Bhatnagar Rai and heads of all other security and intelligence agencies briefed the Central delegation. Dr Jitendra Singh sought views of all security officers on the situation especially smooth conduct of yatra.
Sources said the delegation will return to New Delhi tomorrow and submit their report to the Union Home Minister.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union MoS in PMO said morale of the Amarnath Ji pilgrims is very high and it reflects of sentiments of 125 crore people of India, who want that yatra shouldn’t be stopped for a manner.
“The manner in which the pilgrimage was going on showed that entire nation was sensitive about anything that happened in Kashmir and stands behind,” Dr Singh said, adding “it should be an eye opener for Kashmir centric politicians, who claim to be the representatives of mainstream parties but were hesitant to condemn terrorism, separatism and even the hostile nation like Pakistan”.
“They are quick to find fault with the BJP, to which they were entitled as the party was in power at both Centre and State, but why they develop cold feet while condemning act of militants or violence. If this is the kind of convictism and commitment they have towards the people of Kashmir, then common people had to re-think about them,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
Meanwhile, Dr Jitendra Singh today said the perpetrators of attack on Amarnath yatris stand exposed before people of Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters after meeting two injured yatris, wheo were being treated at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura here, Dr Jitendra said that the Amarnath yatra is a symbol of Kashmir’s composite tradition from centuries. “This is a yatra where people of one faith undertake the pilgrimage and the people of other faith act as hosts. I think this is one of the most distinct example,” he said.
In reply to a question with regard to widespread condemnation of the attack by separatists as well as militants, the MoS in PMO said: “I think this is an occasion when all of us are expected to rise up above political lines regardless of our political affiliations, regardless of our political ideologies, regardless of our political beliefs because as I said last time this is an attack on composite culture of Kashmir which Kashmir has been proud for centuries together.”
Dr Jitendra said that the attackers who carried out the attack on Amarnath pilgrims stand exposed before people of Kashmir, particularly youth. “I think the perpetrators stand exposed before the people of Kashmir and today the Kashmir of 2017 and India of 2017 is comprised of more than 65 percent of population which is below the age of 40 which is capable of making its own judgements,” he said.
He refused to comment over allegations of security lapse and said he would not like to engage in that kind of a debate or discussion on an issue as sensitive as this. “I think best left to security experts to come out with to come out with certain influences and accordingly then we will follow it,” Dr Jitendra said. The MoS in PMO hailed the doctors of SKIMS and said they have taken good care of the injured.
“As far as the injured as concerned, they are being looked after very well and I must compliment the doctors and Dr Ahanger, the Director here (of SKIMS), the injured are speaking very high of them and in fact in another few days, may be in just 2 or 3 days, it may be possible even to shift them back. One belongs to Gujarat and another to Maharashtra,” he said.
Dr Jitendra said the Yatris killed and injured in the attack have been adequately given the compensation. “The State Cabinet has also taken the decision this morning. In addition to that the Gujarat State has also announced compensation,” he added. Asked whether there is need of more troops in Kashmir, he said: “We leave it to security experts.”
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