* Reviews situation with DG BSF, police
Avtar Bhat
RS PURA, Oct 8: Maintaining that Indian security forces are retaliating with full might to Pak shelling from across the International Border and Line of Control, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that no leniency will be shown to Pak misadventure on borders.
The Minister, who was on a hectic tour of border areas of RS Pura, Suchetgarh and Bishnah today said that there will be no slackness to Pak shelling from this side and Indian forces are retaliating with full might to frustrate the Pak designs.
Highly acclaiming the valour and exemplary courage displayed by border people, he said that they have been fighting shoulder to shoulder with the security forces and their morale is high despite suffering a heavy damage due to Pak shelling.
Dr Singh, who reached here from Union Capital this morning straightway drove to BSF headquarters in Arnia Sector and held a high level review meeting with DG BSF, D K Pathak, DG J&K Police K Rajendra Kumar, IG BSF Rakesh Sharma, IG J&K Police Rajesh Kumar and other senior BSF and Police officers. They reviewed the situation created due to ceasefire violations by Pakistan and discussed some measures to minimize the collateral damage.
The BSF DG, while giving complete feedback to Minister said that though Pakistan has resorted to unprovoked heavy shelling on the border and indulging in ceasefire violations, the BSF despite the constraints of civilian population from this side of border are also retaliating with full might.
Dr Singh said that the Government headed by Narendra Modi has given complete professional freedom to forces as some decisions are left to professional wisdom of forces only. “This Government has given a free hand to Army and unlike previous Government no one will say now that those indulging in firing from across the border were non -state actors, he added’’.
Dr Singh said the action taken by BSF is praise worthy and our forces are capable of retaliating the enemy attacks with full might. Without naming Congress or any other Party, Dr Singh said it is not time to criticize but to stand by forces who are doing a commendable job.
He said BSF is doing best to come to the rescue of civilian population and it is also the duty of the State Government to cooperate and reinforce their efforts. “The stand of our Government is very clear: go ahead and retaliate forcefully.’’ he added.
During the meeting Dr Singh informed the BSF and Police officers that Home Minister, Raj Nath Singh has agreed to enhance ex-gratia for the dead and injured. The issue was discussed by him with HM yesterday evening, he added.
He said the Centre in principle has agreed to enhance the amount of ex-gratia from Rs one lakh and the modalities of the same are being worked out. The announcement in this regard will be made soon, he added.
The meeting also decided to set up permanent bunkers in border areas as was done during the 1965 and 1971 wars so that the people during the time of shelling can take refuge in these bunkers and civilian casualties are minimized.
Dr Singh said steps will be taken in this direction and he will also pursue the allotment of five marlas of land for border people in safer places where they can construct their shelters to move along with their cattle during the shelling from across the border.
Later Dr Singh visited two migrant camps at Deoli village in Bishnah and interacted with the border people who have migrated from Allah and Karyal villages in Bishnah tehsil. He was also accompanied by MLA Bishnah Ashwani Sharma who stressed on permanent solution of their problem as these people have been uprooted many times since 1947.
Dr Singh visited High School Deoli where people from village Arnia are camping. He also visited Higher Secondary School Dablehar where migrants from Trewah village are camping. The MLAs from R S Pura, Prof Garu Ram and MLA Suchetgarh Ch Shyam also accompanied him.
He also visited migrant camp at Higher Secondary School Salehar where refugees from Trewah are camping. He also visited Ch Chuni Lal Memorial School, Chakroi in Suchetgarh where gujjars from border village Jodha are camping along with hundreds of their cattle and buffalos.
Interacting with the migrants in these camps, Dr Singh assured them that the ex-gratia is being increased for the dead and injured in border shelling as the issue was taken up by him with Union Home Minister yesterday.
He said BSF is also retaliating with force and it has given a befitting reply to shelling from across the border. “The entire nation is with border people and this Government can’t ignore the sufferings of its own people’’, he added.
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