Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU/NEW DELHI, Oct 10: The Defence Ministry and the Home Ministry have sought reports from Army and BSF respectively on lapses leading to infiltration of militants at Keran sector in Kashmir and Hiranagar in Jammu region. The Home Ministry has sought a separate report from the State Government on September 26 twin terror attacks at Hiranagar and Samba.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Union Home Ministry had sounded an alert about possible infiltration attempts in the entire border belt of Jammu sector but despite that three militants infiltrated from Hiranagar sector and attacked Hiranagar police station followed by Mehsar Army camp at Samba killing 10 persons including eight security personnel before being eliminated by the troops.
“Some lapsed were there. We had information about possible infiltration attempts in the entire belt (Indo-Pak border along Jammu sector). There were Intelligence alerts also (about the infiltration attempts),’’ Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said at a news briefing in New Delhi.
Simultaneously, Defence Ministry has also sought a report on lapses that led to infiltration in Keran sector and subsequent questions raised over the incident. The Army was likely to submit a detailed report right from beginning of operations in Keran on September 23 to culmination of the cordon a day before.
Army chief Gen Bikram Singh has already met Defence Minister AK Antony in a hospital yesterday, where he was recuperating after prostate surgery and apprised him of details of Keran incidents.
The Defence Ministry today discussed with Army Headquarters the details of the infiltration of such a large group of terrorists, who kept the troops engaged for nearly a fortnight.
A high level meeting between the Defence Ministry and the Army Headquarters was held today in which details of the conduct of the operations were discussed. Representations of Directorate General of Military Operations (DGMO), which looks after large-scale operations, were present during the meeting. The DGMOs of India and Pakistan could meet after Eid, sources said.
They added that apart from submitting a detailed report to the Defence Ministry, Army is likely to order an inquiry into Keran operations to find out if there was any mistake committed by the troops and Commanders there as questions have been raised over the operations by the local formation and the senior Commanders.
The encounter in Keran, the largest in years, consisted of a series of gun-battles in which soldiers fought about 30 to 40 heavily armed Pakistani militants, who crossed over the Line of Control (LoC), for a fortnight. India has accused the Pakistan Army of links to the militant group.
Before that, the Army said at least 12 infiltrators were killed at village Shala Batu. However, no dead bodies were recovered. The Defence Ministry has asked for detailed information on how the large group of militants managed to infiltrate inside the Indian territory and whether 12 militants were really killed in first few days of the operation.
Sources said the Home Ministry has also sought more information as to how three militants first infiltrated inside the Indian territory, then stormed a police station at Hiranagar killing six people (four police personnel and two civilians) and then Mehsar Army camp killing four Army soldiers including Lt Col Bikramjeet Singh.
The BSF’s reported version that the militants didn’t enter from Hiranagar sector has not gone well with the Union Home Ministry, which has specific Intelligence inputs that the militants had come from Pakistan taking route of Hiranagar sector as they first appeared at village Hariya Chak, close to Paharpur in Hiranagar before boarding a load carrier to set off for the attacks.
The Home Ministry was of the view that delay in raising an alarm about attack on Hiranagar police station gave the militants enough time to storm Mehsar Army camp, where they entered without being put through any checks as they were wearing Army fatigues.
Sources said the Home Ministry was in the process of taking corrective steps by security agencies to prevent September 26 type attack in Hiranagar and Samba.
The Home Ministry has also sought a detailed report from the State Government on twin terror attacks. The State Government has already appointed Principal Secretary (Home) Suresh Kumar as Inquiry Officer and asked him to submit report in two months.
PTI adds from New Delhi: Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said at a news conference: “we are making corrections based on our experience…”
Shinde said his Ministry has sought a report from the J&K Government on the possible lapses with regard to the incident.
He also said Border Security Force (BSF) and the Army are also inquiring into the incident in which three terrorists carried out the audacious attack in Jammu region, killing ten people, including an Army officer on September 26.
Dressed in Army fatigues, the terrorists stormed a police station and then an Army camp in the area.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry also rejected suggestions that its ambitious project ‘Udaan’— a unique joint initiative between the Government and corporates aiming at providing skills and enhancing job opportunities for youth of J&K was a “non-starter”.
Home Secretary Anil Goswami said there have been some concerns of the corporates, who are involved in this scheme and those issues are being addressed.
“We have told the recruiters that if you inform us about your recruitment dates in 30-35 days in advance we can help you by arranging the logistics…. We will do things in advance,” he said.
Under attack from BJP, Shinde said that his directive for the States to ensure that no innocents were wrongfully detained in terror cases was not specific to Muslims and implied youths of all communities.
Shinde said there was “nothing new” in his letter to the Chief Ministers of all States stressing on the need for justice for innocent minority youth languishing in jail on unsubstantiated terror charges.
He said he had used the term “Muslim” only in the first two paragraphs and the word minorities in the rest of the communication asking the States to ensure that no innocents were harassed by police.
“The Home Ministry keeps writing such letters. But why I wrote that letter, it was categorical. I wrote the letter after receiving representations from various NGOs and others, which specifically made allegations of harassment of Muslim youth. We (Home Ministry) are not saying that. But political parties misunderstood it,” he said at a press conference here.
Shinde said that the Opposition had read his letter in a way that suited them.
“If someone wants to misunderstand, what can we do. If someone’s culture is to put things in the dustbin, they can do it,” he said when asked to comment on BJP’s statement that the said letter by him should be thrown into the dustbin.
Shinde said he has written to Chief Ministers in the past asking them to give relief to Scheduled Caste persons facing alleged atrocities.
Asked whether his directive was applicable to youth from the majority community who may be facing alleged harassment at police hands in false cases, the Home Minister said, “It is applicable to all.”
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