Ops, Intl Grids strengthened
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 19: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs today said there has been considerable improvement in security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and maintained that in view of “encouraging response’’ to Centre Government’s Special Representative on J&K, Dineshwar Sharma, the Government was expecting that all stakeholders in the State, who believe in peace would support the Government initiative and join the dialogue process.
“The Government has appointed Dineshwar Sharma, former Director of Intelligence Bureau, to initiate and carry forward a dialogue with elected representatives, various organizations and concerned individuals in Jammu and Kashmir. Considering the positive initial response from different sections of people in Jammu and Kashmir, it is expected that all stakeholders in the State who believe in peace would support the Government initiative and join the dialogue process,’’ Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir told the Lok Sabha today in response to a volley of written questions.
He said overall security situation in the country including Jammu and Kashmir has showed improvement post-demonetization as incidents of stone pelting have drastically reduced. However, he admitted that terror incidents have gone up in J&K
He added that necessary directions were issued from time to time after reviewing the security situation of the State to the law enforcement agencies and those engaged in anti-militancy operations.
“In order to prevent the activities of militants, numerous steps have been taken, including strengthening of the Operational Grid with an enhanced human intelligence and use of Technical Intelligence Grid,” he added.
The Union Minister of State for Home also explained the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) being followed by law enforcing agencies in Jammu and Kashmir.
“As per the SOP adopted by Jammu and Kashmir Police including law enforcing agencies for dispersal of unlawful assembly, less lethal weapons should be used as per the established use-of-force policy. The use of force should be guided by objectives of restoring peace, dispersal of violent unlawful assembly with use of such force as is required to minimize the casualty but without compromising safety for law enforcement elements and peace loving citizens.
“The hierarchy of usage of forces inter-alia includes use of rubber bullet/ plastic bullets. Since, the contents of the SOP and the suggested security measures contain classified information, therefore, further details in the matter cannot be disclosed in the interest of the national security,’’ Ahir said.
The Union Minister of State for Home told the Lok Sabha that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has constituted a Committee to review the cases registered against the youths/persons and examine the legal aspects of withdrawal/closure of such cases which are not heinous in nature.
The Committee, he said, has recommended 850 cases involving 4961 (one time offenders) persons/youths subject to certain terms and conditions to the State Government.
Ahir, however, said there were 341 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir between November 1, 2016, to October 31, 2017 in comparison to 311 such incidents in the corresponding period of the previous year.
As many as 203 terrorists, the highest in the last four years, were killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir this year and the number of civilians killed in terror-related violence in the period was also the highest, the Centre informed Parliament today.
The Union Minister of State for Home said that 203 terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year till December 10, as compared to 150 in calendar year 2016, 108 in 2015 and 110 in 2014.
Talking about the number of civilians killed in terror- related violence in the State, he said while 37 of them were killed till December 10 this year, 15 were killed in calendar year 2016, 17 in 2015 and 28 in 2014.
Terror-related incidents in the State till December 10 this year were also the highest at 335 as compared to 322 in calendar year 2016, 208 in 2015 and 222 in 2014, he added.
According to the data provided by the Minister, while 75 security personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir till December 10 this year, 82 were killed in calendar year 2016, 39 in 2015 and 47 in 2014.
In response to another question, Ahir said Pakistan violated the ceasefire a total of 881 times along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir this year, killing 30 people.
“Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir 771 times till December 10, and 110 times along the IB till November-end,’’ he added.
In these incidents of firing from across the border, 30 people — 14 Army personnel, 12 civilians and four BSF personnel — were killed.
No cross-border firing has been reported in other States except Jammu and Kashmir along the border with Pakistan, he said.
The truce between India and Pakistan along the International Border, the Line of Control and the Actual Ground Position Line in Jammu and Kashmir came into force in November 2003.
In 2016, there were 449 incidents of ceasefire violations in which 13 civilians and 13 security personnel were killed and 83 civilians and 99 security personnel were injured.
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