Top brass briefs Malik on situation
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 9: Governor Satya Pal Malik today held high-level review of security situation in Jammu region with top Commanders of Army and senior officers of para-military, Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration ahead of Panchayat elections, schedule to begin with first phase on November 17 and latest attempts being made by the militants to revive militancy in some of the districts, which had been declared as terror-free years ago.
Various other aspects of security situation also figured in the meeting that lasted two hours at the Raj Bhawan here, official sources told the Excelsior, adding that this was the first review of the situation after re-opening of the Civil Secretariat on November 5 for six months of winter.
Advisor to Governor K Vijay Kumar, Incharge Home Department, Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, GOC Nagrota Corps Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, GOC 9 Corps Lt Gen YVK Mohan, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh, Principal Secretary to Governor Umang Narula, Special Director General of CRPF VKS Kaumudi, Additional DGP CID B Srinivas, Additional DG Security and Law & Order Muneer Khan, Additional DG CRPF Kamal N Choubey, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, IGP Jammu Dr SD Singh Jamwal and officials of Central Intelligence agencies among others attended the security review meeting.
Sources said the security arrangements for Panchayat elections, which will be held in nine phase from November 17 to December 11, figured prominently at the meeting. Though Jammu region had recorded massive turnout in Urban Local Bodies polls, the Government didn’t want to take any chance with security arrangements and Malik was reported to have directed all security agencies to ensure fool-proof arrangements well ahead of the polls.
“While para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and Jammu and Kashmir Police will provide security at polling stations and other related areas, the Army will conduct area domination patrolling, wherever required, to thwart designs of the militants,” sources said, adding the Governor directed for smooth conduct of Panchayat elections just like four-phased Municipal polls, which were held in violence-free manner.
Sources said security agencies were of the view that Panchayat elections would need enhanced security arrangements especially in the Kashmir valley for Panchayat elections as compared to Municipal polls as they involved over 58 lakh electorates as compared to 17 lakh in the Urban Local Bodies.
Accordingly, sources said, the State Government was using all resources at its command including reserve battalions for deployment for peaceful conduct of Panchayat elections in the State. It was of the view that the elections will not be much problem in Jammu and Ladakh regions but Kashmir valley remained cause of concern. Security arrangements are being made taking all aspects in consideration, they added.
According to sources, attempts are being made by the militants and their mentors sitting across the border to revive militancy in some districts of Jammu region, which were once infested by the militancy but were presently peaceful, like the killings of BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar, witnessed in Kishtwar recently, were also discussed at the meeting and it was decided that police will take pro-active measures to prevent the terror from spreading in any peaceful area.
Sources said the top Army Commanders briefed the Governor about situation prevailing along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, where Pakistan army was making fresh attempts to infiltrate militants besides indulging in ceasefire violations.
Only yesterday, Army had killed three Pakistani troopers in retaliatory firing in Thub sector opposite Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. Prior to this, three Indian Army jawans were martyred and two Pakistani infiltrators were killed in Sunderbani sector of the same district.
Sources said the Governor obtained the sector- wise assessments of the prevailing security situation and arising challenges. He emphasized the crucial importance of maintaining a sustained close watch on the ground situation, and appreciated the real time coordination and synergy between security forces and civil administration.
He reviewed law and order situation throughout the State and stressed the need of a heightened vigil and ensuring the safety of protected persons and the security of all-important establishments and installations. He appreciated the manner in which the security forces and the civil administration of Kishtwar district handled law and order situation in the region in the aftermath of killing of two political leaders.
The meeting discussed security arrangements made for smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections to the Panchayats and the need of a safe environment for the elections. He lauded the role of civil administration and the security forces in the incident free conduct of polls to the Urban Local Bodies.
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