Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 20: Governor NN Vohra today directed top Army Commanders and heads of other security agencies to plug all infiltration routes along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) and beef up security in hinterland to check possibility of terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir. He asked the civil administration to keep proposal ready for rehabilitation of border migrants in safer zones in the eventuality of Pakistan’s mortar shelling and firing.
This and other directions were reportedly passed by the Governor in a meeting of Unified Headquarters held in the Civil Secretariat for three and half hours (10.30 am to 2 pm) in which wide ranging security related issues pertaining to internal and external threats, successes in 2014 and challenges in 2015, frequent firing on the border and clearance for firing ranges were broadly debated by top Army Commanders, heads of Central Police Forces (CPFs), Intelligence agencies, Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration among others.
Describing threat as “very serious” on the LoC as well as International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, the top brass of security agencies, however, assured the Governor that they were fully geared up to meet with any situation and foil the militant plot, official sources told the Excelsior saying the threat of Taliban and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) also figured during the meeting especially in the wake of attack on Army school at Peshawar and reports that Pakistan army and ISI were trying to divert Tehreek-e-Taliban cadre towards India.
The security agencies were of the view that threat was more serious from Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) than Taliban and ISIS.
Top Army Commanders and heads of other agencies assured the Governor that troops have been deployed in adequate strength along the LoC, IB and hinterland and any attempt by the militants to create disturbances in the State would be foiled. However, they cautioned that the militants could strike at soft targets to create disturbances in the State, which they failed to do during the Assembly elections.
Sources said the Governor reviewed internal and external threats from the militants and called upon the security agencies to plug all infiltration routes with intensified vigil and using sophisticated equipments to take on the threat. Security heads shared their inputs about number of militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir and those waiting across LoC and IB to infiltrate and number of the militants, who were held up in Pakistan after completion of their training.
“The successes achieved by Army, police and para-military forces in eliminating and apprehending the militants in 2014 and challenges during 2015 were debated threadbare in the meeting with heads of all agencies expressing their readiness to face any kind of situation,” sources said, adding the immediate threat hovering over Republic Day celebrations also figured prominently in the meeting with Governor issuing specific directions to ensure that all arrangements were in place for peaceful celebration and the aftermath.
“The frequent mortar shelling and firing by the Rangers on the International Border in three districts of Jammu including Jammu, Samba and Kathua leading to migration of the people living in border areas also came up for detailed discussion in the meeting,” sources said, adding the Governor has asked the civil administration to prepare comprehensive proposal for submission to the Centre to make arrangements for safe rehabilitation of the border people during shelling and firing.
The proposal included allotment of 5 marlas plots to the border migrants in safer zones and construction of concrete bunkers at their present place to save them from sudden firing or shelling. The proposal is being drafted by the civil administration in consultations with the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.
Apart from Pakistan, the situation prevailing along China border in Leh also came up for review with Army Commanders including Leh based 14 Corps GOC and ITBP head giving detailed briefing to the Governor on the situation. Frequent incursions by Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been checked to quite an extent after pro-active approach by India, they said.
Sources said the Governor underlined the areas, which required improvement to keep security situation well under control not only up to Republic Day but in the days to come. He called for strict vigil on the LoC and IB and hinterland for taking on the militant challenges. He also directed for close liaison among all agencies especially in sharing the Intelligence inputs and stay in touch with each other in tackling the menace of terrorism.
The Army Commanders were reported to have taken up the issue of clearance for firing ranges, some of which were closed including Tosa Maidaan in Kashmir and Kaleeth in Akhnoor (Jammu) during previous National Conference-Congress coalition Government. They pointed out that training of the Army was suffering due to shortage of firing rangers.
The Governor is reported to have assured to consider the matter at the earliest.
One of the Intelligence agency is understood to have disclosed to the Unified Headquarters that Jammat-ul-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Sayeed had recently undertook survey along IB in Jammu sector for pushing militants into Jammu and Kashmir.
The agencies also gave their view point on number of militants operating within the State (district wise) and those camping along LoC and IB with a view to infiltrate into this side.
Sources said several other security related issues also figured in the meeting.
The meeting among others was attended by Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda and General Officers Commanding (GOCs) of all 4 Corps operating in the State including Lt Gen KH Singh (Nagrota based 16 Corps), Lt Gen Subrata Saha (Srinagar based 15 Corps), Lt Gen BS Negi (Leh based 14 Corps) and Lt Gen Rajeev Tiwari (Yol Cantonment based 9 Corps) apart from GOCs of Jammu based Tiger Division and Rajouri Division, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary Home Suresh Kumar, DGP K Rajendra, Special DG CRPF, IGs of CRPF (both Jammu and Srinagar), IGs of BSF (both Jammu and Srinagar), Divisional Commissioners of both Jammu and Kashmir provinces, IGPs of Jammu, Kashmir and CID and heads of all Intelligence agencies (both Central and State), posted here.
According to an official handout, Governor N N Vohra, stressed the need for close and effective coordination among all security forces and Intelligence agencies to maintain peace and order in the State. He said that peace is imperative for growth and development and all agencies involved in maintaining the rule of law have to play an important role.
The meeting deliberated on various important issues relating to the internal and external security situation in the State. Officers representing the different agencies briefed the meeting about the measures taken on different fronts to safeguard the frontiers and maintain internal order.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Vohra expressed his satisfaction in regard to security management in the past year, despite continuing challenges on many fronts.
He complimented the security forces and Intelligence agencies for achieving a very high level of convergence on the anti-militancy front and observed that joint efforts of the agencies had resulted in neutralizing the inimical elements and enabled a high voter turnout in the recent concluded Assembly elections which were altogether free, fair and transparently conducted.
The meeting reviewed security situation in all the border areas, along IB, LoC and LAC and analysed issues relating to cross border movements and infiltration attempts across the IB and LoC.
In this context, the Governor called upon the civil and police administration and the security forces to ensure continued close coordination and timely measures for the security of civil population in the frontier belts.
While reviewing the conduct of anti-militancy operations, Mr Vohra stressed the vital importance of ensuring against co-lateral damage to the civil population and emphasised the use of increased application of technology to further improve the capability of security agencies.
The Governor suggested that meetings of the Unified Headquarters should be held at least on quarterly basis and issues of a complex nature may be deliberated upon by establishing one or more sub-groups from among the membership of the Unified Headquarters
Mr Vohra appreciated the collective efforts of the civil administration and the various security forces for rescue and relief operations during the recent floods in the State.
“It was due to their joint and dedicated efforts that loss of human lives was minimised, despite the devastating floods,” he said.
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