Police ready to meet any threat from Al-Qaeda

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, June 21: Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar said today that all security agencies and police were well prepared to meet any threat of Al-Qaeda in Jammu and Kashmir effectively and declared that a “sound and effective mechanism” was in place on the borders to counter infiltration attempts by the militants.
Describing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir as “well under control”, Rajendra said Army and other security forces were fully alive to the situation in the wake of Al-Qaeda threats, post-United States pull out from Afghanistan and were maintaining high alert on the borders in the entire State.
Asserting that incidents of infiltration attempts have gone down this year as compared to previous year, the state police chief said Army, para-military forces and police have achieved considerable successes in the Kashmir Valley in which 10 top militant commanders have been killed and two others arrested recently. “The operations against the militants would continue but we would ensure that there was no collateral damage,” he added.
Replying to a question during his first inter-action with reporters here this morning after taking over as the new DGP from Ashok Prasad on a purported video released by Al-Qaeda asking its cadres to march to Kashmir, Rajendra said: “security forces in Jammu and Kashmir are alert to threats of Al-Qaeda. The State police along with Central forces are prepared to handle any situation and thwart nefarious designs of militants.
“We are alert to threats and prepared to handle any sort of emergency situation effectively,” he added.
“I can assure all of you and people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir that the police along with Central forces is prepared to handle any sort of situation and thwart all such nefarious designs of Al-Qaeda or any other militant outfit,” the DGP said.
Top militants of Al-Qaeda’s had recently released a video calling upon the militants to move to Kashmir.
“The level of infiltration this year compared to last year has come down. This year 10 top militant commanders have been killed and two others arrested in Kashmir recently. We have got a sound and effective anti-infiltration mechanism on the borders with Army and BSF manning Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB). We have got a very sound intelligence system,” Rajendra said.
To a question on seriousness of threats by Al-Qaeda in the wake of twin attacks by Taliban at Karachi Airport and the outfit’s surge in Iraq, he said: “well in this situation, we would not like to comment. But I can assure you we are prepared to handle any sort of situation.”
The state police chief said though there have been no specific inputs about infiltration of Al-Qaeda militants, the security agencies were not taking any chances. “Our security agencies and police were maintaining very high alert on the borders. Our para-military forces and police apart from the Intelligence agencies have sound mechanism in the hinterland to meet with any eventuality,” he asserted.
Rajendra said security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is well under control and “we are committed to provide safe and secure environ to the people of the State.
“I can assure you that a very strong and effective security mechanism and anti-infiltration measures were in place in the entire State including the borders. It was due to extreme alert and vigilance along the borders that incidents of infiltration have come down in the State this year so far as compared to last year,” he added.
Rajendra Kumar said: “the troops are maintaining extreme alert and vigilance along the border line. We have also reviewed the infiltration routes along the border. We have inter-acted with all the forces including J&K Police and other forces and discussed the measures already taken and required to be taken to counter any attempts by the militants to infiltrate or strike in the State.
“We have perfect synergy among all the forces –among Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP and Police. We are working together shoulder to shoulder and I have safe and secured environment for the people of the State”, the DGP added.
Asked about impact of threats emerging in wake of the attacks in Pakistan by militants, he said: “we have been fighting terrorism for last two and half decades. Terrorism is on decline and people of the State are not in favour of violence. There has been a steep decline in even militancy– a day before yesterday you have seen three top terrorist eliminated and one top LeT terrorist of Pakistan arrested and another found dead in the Kashmir Valley.
Rajendra said the people are cooperating with police and coming forward with information. “We are able to contain the militancy and violence but still we are prepared to handle any challenge”, the state police chief said.
Replying to another question on the proposal moved by the State Government to give amnesty to 7000 stone-pelters and its after effects in wake of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajendra said: “this is continuing process. We keep on reviewing the cases with all those youth and all their parents and counsel them. To a great extent it has affect. We have seen that most of the boys who have been counseled have not been recycled into stone pelting. I don’t see anything wrong in such things. It is our job and duty to counsel and put our youth back on the track, wherever we feel that they are strayed”.
The DGP said during his two-day visit to Jammu, he reviewed security situation in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts and said:”we have also listened to the problems of jawans and various issues were discussed. Some of the grievances, the jawans have, will be sorted out at the earliest.”
Ruling out any specific threat with regard to the Amarnath yatra, the DGP said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place at the ground level to deal with any challenges in connection with the yatra.
“There are no specific threats to Amarnath Yatra, but going by the inputs that used to come to us in the past few years, we are taking all necessary precautionary precautions. But there is nothing specific on records”, he said.
“From Lakhanpur to Baltal and Pahalgam, security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra have been put in place. Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, Police, Armed Police have been deployed as per requirements for safety of the pilgrims,
”Rajendra said, adding “the Government of India has made available the forces required by us”.
This year’s annual Amarnath pilgrimage in South Kashmir Himalayas will begin on June 28 this year and conclude on Raksha Bandhan falling on August 10.
“Central armed police forces have been put on our disposal, whose development on the ground has been made. All the routes have been inspected from Lakhanpur to Baltal and also from Pahalgam routes, where the security setup have been put on the ground”, the DGP said.
“There are no specific inputs with regard to threat to Amarnath yatra, but we have made elaborate security arrangements by J&K Police and Central forces to deal with any challenge in connection with yatra”, Kumar said.
He further said that all necessary arrangements have been taken to ensure every possible precaution is taken and prevent even any such attempt to disrupt the annual pilgrimage.
“We have made adequate arrangements. I assure you we have put in sound security system in place. We have perfect synergy among all the forces including among Army, BSF, CRPF and Police,” he said.

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