JAMMU: Over 50 security personnel lost their lives in terror-related incidents last year as against 15 such casualties in 2012, Governor N N Vohra today said, while expressing concern over “likelihood” that attempt will be made to disrupt the two elections due this year.
He also said that there were 244 ceasefire violations on the LoC last year.
However, the Governor said that terrorist related incidents declined by around 23 per cent during 2013 over the previous year.
“It is a matter of concern that as many as 53 security forces personnel were killed in 2013 against 15 such casualties in 2012,” Vohra said in joint session of the State legislature today.
The budget session of JK Assembly started here today.
Taking a serious view of such attacks, all possible corrective measures are being put in place, the Governor said.
While paying homage to all the officers and men who laid down their lives for protecting the territorial integrity of the country, he said, “We shall need to keep in mind the increasing desperation of the militants and their sponsors from across and the likelihood that every possible attempt would be made to disrupt the two elections which shall be conducted this year”.
“Our security forces shall have to continue their strict vigil along the borders,” he said.
Elaborating further on the situation, he said, “Over the past few years, there has been a decline in incidents of terrorist violence and a perceptible improvement in the internal security environment”.
“During 2013, terrorist related incidents declined by around 23 per cent over the previous year”.
On ceasefire violation, he said, “there were 244 ceasefire violations on the LoC and the International Border, which marked a large increase over the past year”.
The state police is playing an increasingly important role in maintaining law and order and undertaking counter insurgency operations and it is hoped that in the coming time it shall be in a position to deal with most internal security challenges on its own, he said.
“The security forces have been highly sensitised to ensure against causing any collateral damages or violation of human rights while carrying out counter militancy operations.
“New Standard Operating Procedures have been adopted and enforced as the operational guidelines for security forces to minimise the collateral damages during counter insurgency operations,” he said.
Vohra said that the Government is committed to the policy of zero tolerance of any human rights violation and to take deterrent action against erring personnel.
“Necessary amendments were brought about in the JK Criminal Procedure Code last year to enable the State Government to notify the ‘Victim Compensation Scheme’ which aims at providing financial help for the treatment, care and rehabilitation of the victims of crime,” the Governor said.
Regarding reduction in foot-prints of security forces in Kashmir, he said,”The improvement in the security environment has enabled the Government to gradually reduce the visibility of the security forces and to reduce their foot print in the inhabited areas by relocating and redeploying them”.
“As a result of this approach, nearly 1,560 buildings – including schools, hospitals, hotels, industrial units, private buildings and cinema halls – occupied by the security forces have been got vacated and restored for their original use,” he said.
“Efforts are underway to have the remaining buildings also vacated at the earliest. It is also relevant to mention that 54 bunkers have been removed from public places in Srinagar city,” Vohra said.
He said that due to progressive improvement in the overall security environment, over one million tourists per annum visited the State during 2012 and 2013.
“Side by side, the pilgrimage to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has also been gaining strength, having passed the ten million mark in 2012 and almost touched this mark last year,” he added.
Due to the sustained efforts of the State Government and the Amarnath Shrine Board, there has been a significant improvement in the facilities provided to the pilgrims and this has resulted in sharply reducing the number of casualties in the 2013 Yatra, he said.
“My Government has recently completed five years in office. During this period, the Government has pursued people’s welfare centric policies with dedication, commitment and a sense of urgency,” he said.
“The people of the State have also made a valuable contribution towards the restoration of peace and normalcy, which are crucial pre-requisites for securing growth and economic development,” the Governor said.
He said that the inclusive and equitable development of all regions of the state has been at the core of the Government’s policy objectives.
Keeping in view the legitimate aspirations of the people of different regions, the Government has decided to establish a comprehensive network of new Administrative Units which will bring administration closer to the people, he said.
Accordingly, 46 new sub-divisions, 135 tehsils, 177 community development blocks and 301 niabats have been created and will be operationalised soon, he said. (AGENCIES)
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