Sinha reviews situation with top brass on targeted killings
*Migrant, Jammu employees to get
secure posting by June 6
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 1: Amidst targeted killings, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today called high-level security review meeting on Kashmir situation in New Delhi on June 3 which among others will be attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Army chief Gen Manoj Pande, top officials of para-military forces, Intelligence agencies and police and civil administration from J&K.
Earlier in the day, Sinha held key meeting in Srinagar which was joined by senior officers of civil and police administration physically and all Deputy Commissioners and SSPs virtually in which it was decided that all Kashmiri migrant and Jammu-based employees will be adjusted at secure places by June 6.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Union Home Ministry was concerned about surge in targeted killings in Kashmir and wants all arrangements to be put in place to ensure that such incidents don’t recur and security situation in the Valley is brought well under control ahead of annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji, beginning June 30.
Besides the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) RK Goyal and Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh are likely to attend the meeting. The NSA, Army chief, all heads of paramilitary forces and Central Intelligence agencies have also been called to the meeting scheduled for June 3.
“The Lieutenant Governor will give detailed briefing to the Home Minister on security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and steps being taken to prevent targeted killings,” sources said.
This is second high-level security review meeting called by the Home Minister on Jammu and Kashmir within a fortnight. On May 17, he had reviewed the Kashmir situation in New Delhi.
Surge in targeted killings has worried the Centre as well as J&K administration as they come at a time when administration has to make arrangements for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine starting June 30 and lasting 43 days till August 11.
Meanwhile, in view of increased threat perception, the UT administration today decided to immediately post non-local employees, including those employed under Prime Minister’s Package and others belonging to Jammu division in “secured locations” in the Valley by June 6.
The decision comes after a series of targeted killings of Government employees including Kashmiri migrants and those hailing from parts of Jammu region, by militants in Kashmir and fears of their exodus from the Valley.
“PM Package employees and others from minority community posted in Kashmir division will be immediately posted at secured locations and the process will be completed by 6th June,” sources said.
“It has to be ensured that no employee should work or reside in isolated areas or in a scattered manner,” they said.
This was decided in a high-level meeting of Administrative Heads and senior police officers chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha early this morning in Srinagar.
In addition to a Special Cell within Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, General Administrative Department (GAD) will also have a dedicated email ID for complaints and grievance redressal, they said.
There is a need to sensitise the lower rung officials in every department to take up such matters and complaints seriously and on priority, they said.
Any lapse in dealing with complaints or harassment of the PM Package and minority community employees will be dealt with strictly.
The sources said that confidence-building measures must be taken to ensure that the employees feel safe and secure. Senior officers will visit the employees for first-hand appraisal of concerning issues, they said.
The Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police (SPs) will actively monitor the complaints of such employees, it was decided.
Other issues of PM Package employees such as promotions and preparation of seniority lists must be completed within three weeks, they said.
The DCs and SSPs must carry out an assessment of accommodation of the PM Package and minority community employees, they said.
“It has to be ensured that no employee should work or reside in isolated areas or in a scattered manner,” the sources said.
The migrant employees have been holding protests demanding they be shifted out of the Valley following the terror killings.
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