Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 30: A Central Intelligence agency has sounded a fresh alert warning more militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir prompting security forces and police to take “extra ordinary security arrangements’’ along the border and hinterland even as Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) into March 28 fidayeen attack at the Army camp while Police Headquarters was directly monitoring investigations into the case.
Army chief Gen Bikram Singh has briefed Defence Minister A K Antony about the incident while BSF chief D K Pathak has apprised Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde about the whole episode after getting details from their respective officers in Jammu.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a Central Intelligence agency has sounded the State authorities on more militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir especially on the eve of every phase of Parliamentary elections. “The militants both across the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) as well as those operating within the State could carry out terror attacks to disturb the elections,’’ the alert said, asking security forces and police to remain on “very high alert’’ during the elections.
The alert had warned that the militants could even try to target the contestants, sources said, adding that in view of the alert security of major contestants has been further beefed up and SHOs have been asked to ensure proper sanitise the venues before allowing the candidates to address the election rallies. Special arrangements would be made for the political leaders coming to Jammu and Kashmir for election campaigning.
Special Director General of Police (Police Headquarters) K Rajendera said the security arrangements for the elections were being reviewed regularly along with the Election Commission officials as well as separately.
“The para-military companies have started moving in along with the local police for first two phases of elections in Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituencies, scheduled for April 10 and 17 respectively,’’ he said.
On fidayeen attack at Tarnah Nullah and Janglote Army camp on March 28, Mr Rajendera said the investigations were being directly monitored by the Police Headquarters and the lapses have been viewed very seriously.
“The investigations were on. We would find out what went wrong and where the security lapses occurred. Everything would be investigated and it would be ensured that two attacks of similar nature on the National Highway that took place on September 26, 2013 and March 28, 2014 don’t recur,’’ Mr Rajendera said.
Sources said Army chief Gen Bikram Singh has briefed Defence Minister A K Antony about the incident that led to one fatal casualty of the Army apart from two civilians. However, Army with the help of CRPF and police had killed all three foreign terrorists of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) within 12 hours of the operation.
In September 26 attack, the militants had killed four Army soldiers including Lt Col Bikramjit Singh, the second-in-command of 16 Cavalry Unit at Mehsar in Samba district but this time the troops ensured that there were minimum casualties and the militants didn’t manage to sneak inside the Army camp.
BSF Director General DK Pathak has also briefed Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on the attack.
Sources said the briefing by the Army chief to the Defence Minister and the BSF DG to the Union Home Minister was based on the inputs given by the Commanders of Jammu.
Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Rising Star Corps based at Yol Cantonment in Himachal Pradesh, which looks after Jammu, had briefed the Army chief the same day.
Sources said the Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the incident in which one Army jawan was killed and another injured but the troops succeeded in eliminating all three foreign terrorists in less than 12 hours.
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