Intl delegates to stay in Sgr for 4 days, WG meet on May 23
*Dal, Dachigam Park, Gulmarg places of sightseeing
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 10: Specialized Forces and anti-drone technology from New Delhi and deployment of additional paramilitary forces from within the Union Territory to Srinagar, Gulmarg and some other places, securing areas inhabited by the minorities and non-locals and regular search operations in sensitive areas are among the series of measures discussed by a Central team with top police and Intelligence officials of Jammu and Kashmir for G20 meeting in Srinagar from May 22-25, the first major international event post abrogation of special status of erstwhile State.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Jammu and Kashmir is bracing up for maximum participation of delegates in G20 meeting on Working Group of Tourism scheduled to be held in Srinagar on May 23. Delegates from almost all countries except one are scheduled to attend the meeting in Srinagar, they said.
As per the details available with the Excelsior, the G20 delegates on Working Group on Tourism will reach Srinagar on May 22 and will be accorded warm welcome. Meeting of the Group will be held on May 23. The delegates will be taken to major tourist places for sightseeing on May 24 in Srinagar including Dal lake where they will go for Shikara ride, Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary and some other significant places followed by Gulmarg. They will return to New Delhi on May 25.
Police and Intelligence officials from Jammu and Kashmir had detailed discussions with a Central team on making security and other arrangements for G20 delegates in the Union Territory especially the Valley where the meeting is scheduled to be held.
“Specialized Force and anti-drone technology from New Delhi will be deployed in Srinagar and tourist places where G20 delegates will visit. Additional paramilitary forces from within the Union Territory will also be relocated and deployed in Srinagar, Gulmarg and other vulnerable areas to ensure peaceful meeting,” sources said.
As additional paramilitary forces for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji yatra also start reaching Jammu and Kashmir early June, some of the companies could reach in advance for deployment during G20 meeting. However, a decision on this will be taken at the high-level meeting to be called by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi in next few days on reviewing security arrangements for G20 meeting, general security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and upcoming pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji.
“Security arrangements for G20 meeting will be fool-proof. Several drills will be carried out ahead of the high-profile visits. All places where the international delegates will meet, stay and tour from May 22-25 will be secured with presence of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), paramilitary forces, Specialized Forces and Intelligence personnel,” sources said.
They said delegates from majority of G20 nations will be attending the meeting on Working Group on Tourism in Srinagar though there were reports that hostile neighbour China might skip the meet under pressure from Pakistan.
The main venue to host G20 meetings is the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), which is situated on the banks of Dal lake. The venue is being given a makeover which includes the upgradation of digital infrastructure and refurbishing of the interior and exterior.
The road to Gulmarg from Srinagar, the Narbal-Gulmarg stretch is being given a new look, and the Nehru Guest House along with other huts in Chashmeshahi are being revamped.
The UT administration has also set up a special medical task force, including advanced life support mobile ambulances at the venues and excursion sites.
Sources said apart from G20 members, delegates from guest countries and many international organisations will attend the summit.
The Intelligence agencies have reports that the militants and their mentors sitting in Pakistan are badly frustrated due to elimination of militants especially their top commanders and their inability to strike in the Valley. In such a situation, the militants could strike at soft targets ahead of G20 meeting, which is a major international event in the Valley, they added.
Venue of the meeting and places where G20 delegates will visit will come under 24×7 security net nearly week ahead of the scheduled summit date, sources said, adding along with Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will guard the vulnerable areas where the militants could strike. All such places will be fully secured, they added.
The Intelligence agencies are of the view that there is also little presence of militants in some districts of the Jammu region and they could also strike there just for the sake of making a news ahead of G20 meeting. Worthwhile to mention here that two Pakistani militants involved in carnage of seven members of minority community, two of them minors, at Dhangri in Rajouri district remained untraced even after more than three months of the killings.
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