Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 17: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today called upon all security agencies to take all possible measures to prevent any spurt in civilian killings like Sopore and maintain peace in the State at all cost to ensure peaceful summer, tourist season and annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath ji shrine, which is scheduled to commence on July 2.
He passed these directions at a high level security review meeting of Unified Headquarters at Srinagar this afternoon, which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, top brass of civil administration, Army, para-military forces, police and Intelligence agencies. The meeting lasted over two hours at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC)
Dr Singh told the Excelsior that though security arrangements for Amarnath yatra, which is due to start in a fortnight and recent spurt in civilian killings at Sopore dominated the meeting, the summer strategy to ensure safety and security of tourists at all major destinations, law and order problems and situation along Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) also came up for high level review in the meeting.
Dr Singh said the meeting of the Unified Headquarters decided that there will be no compromise on security situation as certain forces might be trying to disturb the first ever PDP-BJP Government in Jammu and Kashmir but their all attempts will be foiled.
He said the Chief Minister lauded security forces for exercising restraining despite provocations like stone pelting etc at some places and called for tactful handling of the situation to avoid the collateral damage and civilian casualties. He added that Mufti Sayeed hoped peaceful summer all across the State due to strict surveillance on the situation including the borders.
Official sources said the Chief Minister directed security agencies to take all steps to prevent the killings in Sopore and other parts of the Kashmir valley to restore confidence among the people and maintain peace and tranquility, which has been disturbed in the town following killings and attacks on mobile telephone towers.
Director General of Police K Rajendra is understood to have assured the Chief Minister that police was on the job and all those responsible for the killings would be behind the bars soon. He said all steps were being taken to prevent civilian killings in the State including Sopore, where the militants have gunned down four civilians in the past few days.
Apple rich town of Sopore had first hogged the limelight in the wake of militant attacks on mobile telephone towers and now the civilian killings. Police believed that Lashkar-i-Islam, an offshoot of Hizbul Mujahideen was responsible for the killings.
Sources said Mufti Sayeed directed all security agencies including Army, civil administration, para-military forces, police and Intelligence agencies to remain on high alert and guard against any attack on the pilgrims of holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji, which is starting on July 2 and will last 59 days till August 29.
He called for all facilities and fool-proof security to the yatris. He directed that security and all other arrangements for Amarnath ji pilgrims should be made well in advance. He stressed that the yatra should be properly regulated and provided all facilities from the administration.
Along with Amarnath yatris, Mufti Sayeed also directed the security agencies to take steps for protections of tourists at various destinations in the State. He directed that there should be no harassment of the tourists so that more people are encouraged to visit the State.
Top Army Commanders and officers of BSF, CRPF, JKP and other agencies assured the Chief Minister that a strategy has already been put in place for security of Amarnath pilgrims right from Lakhanpur to the holy cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas. They said there would be adequate security on the National Highways, base camps and tracks for the pilgrims. The civil administration also assured all facilities for the pilgrims, which were due on their part.
According to sources, the Unified Headquarters took general assessment of the situation in hinterland of Jammu and Kashmir. The heads of all security agencies briefed the Chief Minister about their perception of the situation and steps being taken by them to keep the militancy under check and law and order situation under control.
The Army Commanders and the BSF officers, manning LoC and IB respectively, gave their assessment of the situation prevailing on the borders with Pakistan. They maintained that they have kept the infiltration well under control during five and half months of this year and hoped for similar situation in the upcoming months. They, however, revealed that the militants were desperate to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir from various places.
An official handout said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed called upon the security agencies to take all measures to see that an environment of peace and tranquility is maintained to help the people who are trying hard to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the devastating floods of September, 2014.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister was briefed on wide ranging matters and overall security scenario along LoC and IB and steps being taken by security agencies to maintain peace in the State.
Sayeed expressed concern over targeted killings of civilians in Sopore and emphasized upon taking all out measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future. He also reviewed the arrangements for smooth conduct of the ensuing Amarnath ji yatra.
Highlighting priorities of the Government, in particular good governance, transparency and corruption-free administration, the Chief Minister emphasized upon the security agencies to infuse a greater sense of security among the people.
Sharing concern regarding the incidents that have taken place in Sopore, the security agencies assured that all out efforts will be made to apprehend those who are responsible for these dastardly acts.
Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey, Director General of Police, K. Rajendra, GOC XVI Corps, Lt Gen Rajiv Tiwari, GOC XV Corps, Lt Gen Subrata Saha, Chief of Staff XIV Corps, Maj Gen Avinash Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister B B Vyas, Principal Secretary, Home R. K. Goyal, Joint Director, IB, Srinagar, Commissioner, SB, Jammu and Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir divisions attended the meeting.
Also present in the meeting were IGP CID, J&K, IGP, Kashmir Zone, IGP, Jammu Zone, IG CRPF (Admn), Jammu, IG, CRPF (Ops), Kashmir, IG CRPF, Jammu, IG, BSF, Kashmir and IG BSF Jammu.
Follow our WhatsApp channel