Sanjeev Pargal/
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, May 10: The Unified Headquarters meeting today observed that after the name of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif surfaced in Panama Papers leak, the Pakistan army has become more powerful, leading to increased militant activity along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir even as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called upon security agencies including police and civil administration to facilitate involvement of local youth in the tourism and upcoming Shri Amarnath ji yatra to discourage them from undesirable activities like stone pelting during the encounters.
Highly placed sources told the Excelsior that top brass of Army, police and Intelligence agencies briefed the Chief Minister that there has been very much increase in militant activities along Pakistan borders in Jammu and Kashmir after Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharief surfaced in Panama Papers leak and the army there has become more powerful.
“This was the real cause of concern in the summer even though troops were fully alert along Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in entire Jammu and Kashmir as increased activity along the borders could lead to increase in infiltration attempts at a time when budget session of the Legislature, Anantnag Assembly by-poll and annual Amarnath ji pilgrimage were on the cards,” they said.
There was a general view in the Unified Headquarters meeting that prospectus of improved relations between India and Pakistan, which were a must for maintenance of peace in Jammu and Kashmir including the borders can get disturbed if the Pakistan Premier was dominated by the army there following his involvement in Panama Papers leak.
According to sources, Mehbooba Mufti, who was presiding over her first meeting of the Unified Headquarters, which was attended by top brass of Army, para-military forces, police, civil administration and Intelligence agencies among others, called upon security forces to maintain high alert along the borders and hinterland and ensure maintenance of peace while thwarting any kind of “undesirable activities” from other side of the borders.
Sources said the Chief Minister called upon all agencies to engage the youth in employment related activities including facilitators for annual Amarnath ji pilgrimage and tourism to keep them focused as earning hands and divert them from subjecting security forces to stone pelting during encounters to help militants escape.
Top brass of security and Intelligence agencies were reported to have briefed the Chief Minister that the trend of stone pelting (on security personnel during gun battles) has declined in the past three encounters in the Kashmir valley and, hopefully, they said the trend would be arrested very shortly.
Sources said the Chief Minister wanted the youths to be dealt with very politely as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that they were not misled and called for engaging them in different job related courses and employment activities.
The Unified Headquarters was briefed that there were a total of 75 militants operating in the Kashmir valley including 58 locals while the rest were foreigners, mostly Pakistanis. In Jammu region, the security agencies told the Chief Minister that only two militants were now active.
“A detailed view of militancy situation in Jammu and Kashmir was given to the Chief Minister separately by top officers,” sources said.
Significantly, they said, the issue of vacation of land by the Army or allotment of new land to them didn’t figure in the Unified Headquarters meeting as it was felt that the issue be left for the Civil Military Liaison Conference.
The Civil Military Liaison Conference was also proposed to be held shortly, they said, adding no side raked up the issue, which was contrary to the expectations.
Sources said annual Amarnath Ji pilgrimage, which is starting on July 2 in South Kashmir Himalayas and would continue till August 18, also came up for high level review and Mehbooba Mufti directed security agencies to ensure that it was completely peaceful and yatris feel safe and secure.
On tourism season in the State including the Kashmir valley, Mehbooba was reported to have directed the agencies to ensure maintenance of peace so that the season didn’t get disturbed as large number of people were connected to the tourism and the yatra and their years long livelihood depends upon the tourist season of two to three months.
Sources said the Chief Minister was of the view that if all security agencies, civil administration and other officers cooperate and work in close co-ordination with each other, peace would definitely prevail in the State.
Sources added that the Chief Minister listened to the view of heads of all agencies including Army, para-military forces, police, civil administration and Intelligence agencies on militancy, law and order situation and peace on the borders as she wanted to be fully acquaint herself with the situation in the State as she also happened to be the Home Minister and budget session of the Legislature was only a fortnight away.
Addressing the meeting, Mehbooba Mufti asked the security agencies to strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and adopt humane approach while dealing with law and order situation in the State as any incident of civilian killings reverses the gains achieved by Government. She stressed for reducing the foot prints of the security forces at tourist places and airports to cause less inconvenience to the visitors.
Mehbooba stressed for humane approach while dealing with law-and-order situations. She said that SOPs should be maintained at all costs and civilian casualties should be avoided as it reverses the gains. “Any incident of civilian killing reverses all the gains that have been achieved so far,” she added.
The Chief Minister asked the security agencies to maintain restraint at all costs, so as to avoid any civilian casualties and collateral damage. She said that the youth who have picked up guns should get an option for homecoming.
Mehbooba stressed upon reducing the footprint of security forces at various tourist places and airports so as to cause less inconvenience to the visitors and to welcome them with a sense of normalcy. She said for a sense of normalcy, visibility of the security forces and bunkers should be minimized in the civilian areas.
Chief Minister urged the security agencies to conduct their operations keeping in view the safety of the people so that an environment of peace is maintained, which will enable the Government to implement its agenda of good governance and development in the State.
The senior Army officers including Northern Army chief, Lt General DS Hooda and General Officer Commanding (GOC) Chinar Corps, Lt General SK Dua briefed the Chief Minister about overall security scenario including steps taken for tackle infiltration of militants into the State, security operations and law and order issues.
The Army Commanders said that the Army has intensified its operations along the LoC in Kashmir following inputs that the militants are desperate for infiltrating into Kashmir to disturb the peace. They also briefed Chief Minister about security forces operations against militants.
Police chief K Rajendra Kumar and other top officers briefed the CM about the law and order issues and steps taken to minimize the collateral damage during its handling.
Chief Minister underlined the importance of UHQ as an apex platform to synchronise the endeavours of the civil administration, security forces and Police for evolving a cogent response to tackle the internal and external challenges to peace in the State.
On the importance of peace along borders, Mehbooba insisted upon taking forward the initiative of border tourism, started by former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, at Suchetgarh, in Jammu. She also asked the security agencies to showcase the area of Baba Chamliyal as a symbol of great reverence, observed by people from both the sides.
On the smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra, the Chief Minister stressed upon involvement of local population to facilitate the visiting pilgrims. She said that during pilgrimages at various holy places, young boys are involved for a certain period to facilitate the pilgrims. “Kashmiris have for long been an epitome of hospitality which they have proved time and again during the yatra. Our young boys should be made part of this activity,” she said, adding this will go a long way in generating a very positive perception about the youth who are otherwise being demonised.
Mehbooba said the civil administration, with active support of police and other agencies, should try to resolve burning problems of common masses like water scarcity, power disruptions, traffic mismanagement as these lead to public discontent and subsequent law-and-order situations.
Chief Minister appreciated the role of security forces and J&K Police in civic action programmes. She asked them to involve the local youth in larger activities like maintaining micro-hydel projects.
Mehbooba complemented Police for the way they have been working under tremendous pressure from all sides to maintain law-and-order.
The Chief Minister also praised the police for doing a great job in drug de-addiction with minimal resources as well as Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir for taking a very tough stand against drug peddlers. She also complimented the Army for its Super 30 coaching initiative whereby J&K students have been able to crack national-level competitive exams.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, while speaking on the occasion, appreciated the coordination between various wings of security forces and maintained that it was due to their coordinated efforts that peace has been restored and sustained across the State and now the onus lies on us to ensure that it remains constant. He said necessary arrangements should also be put in place for hassle-free and smooth conduct of annual Amarnath Yatra and every facility should be provided to the yatris.
Dr. Singh stressed upon following the Agenda of Alliance between the coalition partners, adding only then will the targets fixed in the agenda be achieved. He further said that the security forces should also be extra vigilant to thwart the evil designs of anti-national elements and they should be cautious and prepared.
Deputy Chief Minister also called for putting in place the necessary mechanism to tackle the growing drug menace in the State and asked the security forces, especially the police to arrest the tendency and said that it is more dangerous than militancy and other subversive activities.
Chief Secretary, B R Sharma, Lt Gen D S Hooda, Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar, Lt Gen S K Dua, GoC IX Corps, Lt General Ashok Ambre, GoC XIV Corps, Lt Genera, S K Patyal, GoC XVI Corps, Lt Gen R R Nimbhorkar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Navin K Chaudhary, Principal Secretary, Home, R K Goyal, ADGP CID, S M Sahai, Joint Director, IB, Harmeet Singh, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon, attended the meeting.
Besides these IGP, Kashmir Zone, SJM Gillani, IGP, Jammu Zone, Danesh Rana, IG CRPF (Admn), Atul Karwal, IG, CRPF (Ops), Kashmir, Nalin Prabahat, IG CRPF, Jammu, Kuldeep Dhar, IG, BSF, Kashmir, Vikash Chandra, IG BSF Jammu, D K Upadhayaya and Additional Commissioner, SB, Srinagar, Raja Murugan also attended the meeting.
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