RR to lead CI Grid; more troops head for LoC, IB

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 17: The Government of India today announced series of measures to contain militancy and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir and infiltration along the borders. The roadmap prepared after a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, attended by top brass of para-military forces, MHA officials and Intelligence agencies, in New Delhi.
Top official sources told the Excelsior that the Rashtriya Rifles would lead the Counter-Insurgency Grid in Jammu and Kashmir while more troops will be deployed along Line of Control (LoC) and para-military Border Security Force (BSF) on the International Border (IB) to effectively deal with the infiltration attempts that, according to Intelligence agencies, could significantly go up from April onwards after melting of the snow.
“The Rashtriya Rifles would lead the Counter-Insurgency Grid in Jammu and Kashmir,” sources said, adding the decision was taken to take on the militants in the hinterland as their presence has increased after 2016 summer unrest with some local militants joining various outfits while Pakistani militants infiltrating into the Valley from across the LoC.
Additional troops were being deployed at the LoC and BSF on the IB to plug the infiltration routes, which could be exploited by the militants with the onset of summer in the Valley next month. Army and BSF were already maintaining strict vigil on the LoC and IB respectively.
Sources said the Union Home Minister has made it clear in the high-level meeting that there will be no scale down of forces in the hinterland as well in any part of the State.
“The para-military forces would maintain their position in the internal areas to tackle any kind of protests,’” sources said, adding the Centre was concerned over the reports that local people, at some places, have taken to streets during encounters with the militants and try to give passage to them.
The meeting decided that there will be no let-up in operations against the militants, which will continue with full force. However, security forces would involve Jammu and Kashmir Police in the operations and the cops will try to wean away the local population from the site of encounters.
According to sources, the Union Home Ministry called for adopting hard-line against militants, their Over Ground Workers, separatists and other such elements. It, however, stressed upon the heads of para-military forces to ensure that innocent civilians are not harassed.
Rather, sources said, it called for separating the people from the militants by involving youth in various kinds of activities.
The high-level MHA meeting stressed for more involvement of Jammu and Kashmir Police in Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Infiltration Grids, which could help security forces in identification of accurate location of the militants and avoiding people from gathering at the site of encounters.
The Union Home Ministry decided that a delegation of the MHA would shortly visit Jammu and Kashmir for on spot preparedness of security agencies along the borders as well as hinterland and accordingly firm up the plan to effectively meet the challenge of infiltration and militancy.
Sources said the Home Ministry delegation led by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi could visit Jammu and Kashmir shortly for inter-actions with political leadership of the State as well as security agencies, para-military forces, civil administration, police, Intelligence agencies and other stakeholders.
According to sources, the Union Home Secretary, para-military force chiefs and heads of Intelligence heads gave their assessment of the situation to the Union Home Minister on Jammu and Kashmir and listed the measures, which were already in-force to tackle the militancy related situation and law and order problem.
They were reported to have referred to the upcoming by-election to two Lok Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir-Srinagar and Anantnag on April 9 and 12 respectively and the State Government’s request for 250 additional companies of para-military forces. The Home Ministry is reported to have conceded the demand and the para-military companies could reach the Valley well ahead of the elections, sources said.

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