Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 15: Union Home Secretary LC Goyal has called high level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow with prime focus on Shri Amarnath ji yatra arrangements and general security situation in the State including surge in the civilian killings at Sopore. Tomorrow’s security review in New Delhi will be followed by Unified Headquarters meeting in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, on June 17, which will be chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and attended by entire top brass of Army, para-military forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police, civil administration and Intelligence agencies.
Official sources told the Excelsior that J&K Home Secretary RK Goyal, Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra and Intelligence chief AG Mir would attend the meeting called by the Union Home Secretary at North Block tomorrow afternoon to review entire gamut of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which had witnessed certain disturbances by the separatists followed by attacks on mobile telephone towers and civilians. Arrangements for Amarnath ji pilgrimage in South Kashmir Himalayas starting July 2 would come up for high level review in the meeting.
Sources said Goyal, who had visited Jammu and Kashmir for three days including the International Border on his maiden visit to the State after takeover as the Union Home Secretary from April 9 to 11, was likely to discuss the inputs with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding Amarnath yatra, militancy in the hinterland, recent attacks and security situation along the International Border (IB), which falls under the para-military force BSF.
The MHA has agreed to provide about 70 companies of para-military forces for peaceful conduct of 59 days long Amarnath ji yatra from July 2 to August 29. Apart from them, the MHA has asked the State Government to mobilize existing para-military force and police for deployment. Army would also be deployed for security of the pilgrims at the cave shrine.
“While review of Amarnath yatra arrangements was prime focus of tomorrow’s high level meeting at the North Block, which will also be attended by other senior officers of the MHA, it would also review summer strategy of the State Government, security situation in the hinterland especially the spurt in killings at Sopore, attacks on mobile phone towers and activities of separatists among other major issues,” sources said.
Though security forces and police have managed to control the attacks on mobile telephone towers and restored mobile network, the killing spree in Sopore was going on with fourth civilian killed early this morning. The State Home Secretary, the DGP and the Intelligence chief would brief the Union Home Secretary on steps taken to keep militancy under check, maintain law and order situation in the State, measures to curb the militant attacks and ensure peaceful 59 days long Amarnath yatra.
This is the first high level review by the MHA of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on the yatra arrangements and disturbances being caused by the separatists by resorting to anti-national acts.
According to sources, situation along the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector would also come up for the review. Though the IB is nearly calm, the peace is sometimes disturbed by the Pakistani Rangers by resorting to ceasefire violations. The MHA also wants to ensure safety and security of the people living close the border and has initiated certain measures for that.
Meanwhile, a day after the MHA review, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has called Unified Headquarters meeting in Srinagar on June 17 to review security scenario in the State. The meeting comes in the wake of fourth killing of civilian in Sopore early today.
“All security related issues including Sopore attacks and strategy to check them will be discussed in the meeting,” sources said.
Confirming Unified Headquarters meeting in Srinagar on June 17, Defence spokesman Col SD Goswami told the Excelsior that top Army Commanders were likely to attend it and brief the Chief Minister about their perception of security situation in the State.
Northern Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC Nagrota based 16 Corps Lt Gen KH Singh, GOC Srinagar based 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha and GOC 14 Corps Lt Gen BS Negi would attend the meeting among others. Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, DGP K Rajendra and heads of all para-military forces, Intelligence agencies, zonal heads of police, the two Divisional Commissioners and other senior officers would also join the meeting.
Sources said the Unified Headquarters will review all aspects of the situation including situation on LoC and IB, hinterland of the State, Shri Amarnath ji yatra arrangements, law and order situation, summer strategy and Sopore killings.
This is third meeting of the Unified Headquarters in five and half months of this year. The first UHQ meeting was chaired by Governor on January 24 while the Chief Minister has presided over his first UHQ meeting on March 12 in Jammu.
Follow our WhatsApp channel