Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 23: Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami today called upon Army, para-military forces, police and Intelligence agencies to maintain high level alert in the State including the borders ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha and Assembly elections following inputs with the Ministry of Home Affairs that the militants could go all out to disrupt the elections.
“The political leadership could be among the targets of the militants,” official sources told the Excelsior.
Mr Goswami issued the advisory to top brass of Army, para-military forces, Intelligence agencies, police and civil administration at a security review meeting chaired by him for about two hours before winding up his four days visit.
The Union Home Secretary held a separate one-to-one security review of the situation with General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps Lt Gen DS Hooda at Nagrota. Lt Gen Hooda was also present in the security review meeting.
Sources said the Home Secretary discussed various aspects of security scenario in the upcoming year of 2014 with senior officers of BSF, CRPF, Intelligence agencies, police and civil administration, drawn from both divisions of the State for over two hours from 11 am to 1 pm.
Mr Goswami is reported to have shared inputs the MHA had gathered about security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir with top officials of the State. He called for maintenance of strict surveillance on all vital installations of the State and high alert on the borders to ensure that the militants didn’t succeed in their designs.
There had been reports with the Home Ministry that the militants would try to raise the level of militancy ahead of the elections and disrupt both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The MHA also had reports that the militants could try to repeat September 26 like fidayeen attack to create trouble in the State.
Sources said the MHA has also issued an advisory on keeping a strict vigil on communal situation in sensitive parts of the State especially Jammu region ahead of the general elections.
Sources added that the BSF officers briefed the Home Secretary about steps taken by them to check infiltration attempts on the International Boundary from Kathua to Akhnoor. Barring one-odd ceasefire violation, the International Border has been peaceful after October 29 flag meeting between BSF and Rangers at RS Pura.
Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Home Secretary Suresh Kumar and Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad also gave their assessment of the situation apart from CRPF and Intelligence agencies officials on prevailing situation in the State and the days to come.
Security at holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji came up for a high level review during the meeting. Mr Goswami had visited the shrine on December 21, the second day of his visit. Earlier also, Mr Goswami, who was first CEO of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, had held a separate security review for the shrine. The security measures suggested by the MHA for the shrine in the previous meeting, which have almost been implemented, also figured in the review.
Sources said Mr Goswami advised all para-military forces, Intelligence agencies, police and civil administration to keep vigil on internal security situation, which the separatists and other vested interests could try to exploit ahead of the elections.
Sources said security and Intelligence agencies also shared the inputs they had about security scenario in the State including number of militants, who were awaiting an opportunity to infiltrate into the Indian territory but have failed.
The Chief Secretary, the DGP, the Divisional Commission and the IGP Kashmir apart from para-military and Intelligence officials gave a detailed briefing on security scenario in the Kashmir Valley, sources said.
Later, The Union Home Secretary went to 16 Corps Headquarters at Nagrota and had a luncheon one-to-one meeting with Lt Gen DS Hooda on security scenario along the Line of Control (LoC) and other aspects of the situation.
Mr Goswami returned to New Delhi after four days visit at 6 pm today in a special BSF plane.
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