Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 9: Six districts of Jammu region were almost free of militancy but police was strengthening Security Grid in Jammu City and peripheries to ensure that there was no untoward incident. There could be hardly 15 to 20 militants active in Jammu region.
Stating this in an exclusive interview to the Excelsior, IGP Jammu zone, Rajesh Kumar said the City Security Grid is being given a new look by extending its area of operation right up to Channi Himmat and Sunjwan and some other areas, which have fast developed around the City.
The City Security Grid generally comprised the police personnel but is assisted by the para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Mr Kumar said the Grid is being strengthened and expanded to ward off any possibility of terror strike in the City though there had been no inputs about presence of militants in any part of Jammu.
“Still, we are taking no chances. We have reviewed the situation and decided to expand the Grid in left out areas of Jammu. It would be a very effective Grid. It would ensure that everything goes well in Jammu,’’ he added.
Asserting that six districts in Jammu region were almost free of militancy, the Jammu Police chief said in remaining four districts also there were hardly 15 to 20 active militants, some of them could be the foreign mercenaries.
He said Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Doda, Reasi and Udhampur were completely rid of militancy.
“There was some movement of militants in Kishtwar and Ramban districts and boundaries lines of twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. The number of militants in these districts was very limited, may be between 15 to 20, most of whom were locals though there were few foreign terrorists,’’ the IGP Jammu said.
Saying that security arrangements in place were “dynamic’’ and the force was “extra extra alert’’, Mr Kumar said the security review was being made periodically as per the threat assessment. “No areas have been left unattended,’’ he added.
He asserted that though the militancy was at its low, the police would be alive to “day-to-day threats’’.
“We keep on reviewing the situation at regular intervals…as the situation develops…We take review whenever there is a blast in any other City like Hyderabad or any other place. Security arrangements are made and the Security Grid strengthened accordingly,’’ Mr Kumar said.
On anti-infiltration measures, he said Army and BSF were guarding the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) effectively. “Police is also on the second line but our role comes only if there is report of any successful infiltration attempts,’’ he asserted.
On the sensitive issue of a number of Close Circuit Television Sets (CCTVs) being non-functional including Jammu City, holy town of Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine and Katra-Bhawan track, the IGP Jammu said the issue has already been taken up with the Police Headquarters.
“Very soon, all district headquarters would be covered with the CCTVs. The Police Headquarters was on the job. It would be done soon. There would be new CCTV and old one would also be made functional. Katra and track of Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan besides other sensitive places would be covered with the CCTVs,’’ he added.
The IGP said the police was supplementing the CCTV failure with manual policing and frisking.
Mr Kumar said that adequate security arrangements were in place at Katra and Mata Vaishno Devi track to counter any terror threat. “The pilgrims can come freely. There is already heavy rush of yatris and it would further go up in the summer. Police and CRPF have taken enough measures to ensure that the yatra progressed smoothly’’.
On security arrangements for Amarnath yatra, the Jammu Police chief said the preparations have already started.
“The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu is scheduled to take a meeting this or next week after which the arrangements would start in full swing. The arrangements would be taken as per the requirement. We will start work on security arrangements well in advance,’’ he added.
On shortage of manpower with police, the IGP said: “we are manning our police stations and police posts with available strength. In the next about one month, the police strength would increase to some extent.’’
Meanwhile, Mr Kumar has issued instructions to police stations, posts and other officers to be polite with the people so that a message goes that police was “people friendly’’.
“The people should come to police stations without any fear. Such should be the behaviour of police,’’ he said, adding that police officers should listen to all versions to ensure that there was no injustice with anyone.
The police chief has also directed the police officers to intensify night patrolling. A message has also gone to the officers that land grabbing should be effectively checked.
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