Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 15: Despite clearance by the Ministry of Defence a proposal for the installation of full body scanners for the scanning of trucks loaded with goods coming from the Pak occupied Kashmir at Salamabad (Uri in Kashmir) and Chakkan-da-Bagh (Poonch) LoC points, the much needed modern gadgets are no where in sight while with the poor infrastructure available at both the points, the security, immigration and trade facilitation staff is facing lot of problems.
Authoritative sources told Excelsior that Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had initiated the process of procuring the full body scanners from the foreign firms and the tenders for the same were also placed. It was expected that both the scanners will be in place at the cross LoC points at Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh before October last year, but there was no installation of such scanners in sight till today.
The sources said that necessity to install full body scanners for trucks loaded with the goods coming from PoK side, was felt by the Indian security agencies after the Customs/ Excise and security staff at Chakkan-da-Bagh and Uri recovered some objectionable material, including live cartridges of guns and satellite phones concealed in the packed boxes of goods coming from PoK side on several occasions at the Trade Facilitation Centres at both the LoC points.
The security men seized live rounds at least on three occasions at Poonch LoC point, SIM cards on number of occasions, a satellite phone once and now 114 kg brown sugar worth over Rs 100 crores at Salamabad (Uri). It has also led to the suspension of trade on both the sides and put the drivers/ operators besides traders in trouble. Not only this, in view of stand off between the two countries over the issue of this recovery, the bus service was also suspended and the visitors and their families had to suffer.
While the firms which had sent the consignment from PoK and even those who were supposed to receive the goods have already been blacklisted and banned for further trade, the Trade Facilitation Officers at Chakkan-da-Bagh and Uri sent a proposal to the Deputy Commissioners concerned (Poonch & Baramulla) for the installation of full truck body scanners to keep check on such activities. Moreover, it was very lengthy procedure to unload each truck and display entire goods by opening boxes before the security and Customs staff and then again re-pack as per routine practice. With the availability of poor infrastructure and out of order machines at both the trade centres, such problems are being experienced.
Sources said the Deputy Commissioners sent the proposals to the State Home Department which forwarded it to the Union Home Ministry. State Chief Minister also took the matter with the Defence Minister and the Union Home Minister. Union Home Ministry discussed the proposal with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which has already given its clearance. The matter was pending with the Union Home Ministry since June last year. But no further development was witnessed.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shailender Kumar when contacted said that the proposal had been sent to the Union Home Ministry by the State Government during 2011-12 and it was still pending with them. The proposal was discussed at higher level to install two full body scanners one each at Salamabad in Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch. Reminder in this connection was also forwarded to the Union Home Ministry but there was no fresh communication from them so far.
When asked is there really need of installing such full body scanners at LoC points under these circumstances, the Divisional Commissioner said, ” certainly, yes”. He said if full truck body scanners are installed at both the LoC points, the problems like suspension of trade/ travel etc can be avoided. “The truck with any such material will be detected immediately after crossing gate. Moreover, scrutinizing goods of each truck is time consuming exercise. Fool-proof security can be ensured with the installation of such gadgets there. What the people sitting in Delhi (Home Ministry) think and take decision in this regard, can tell better. We can only send proposal and give reminders in this regard,” Mr Kumar maintained.
TFO Poonch (Chakkan-da-Bagh), Mohd Bashir Lone said that two small scanners/ machines installed at trade facilitation/ immigration centre, Poonch were lying out of order for the last many months. He said the two machines installed at trade facilitation and immigration centres are functional. A proposal of Rs 1040.70 lakh for raising new infrastructure at Chakkan-da-Bagh was sent to the Union Government during 2011-12 but no funding has been witnessed so far.
Mr Lone said there was urgent need of installing full body scanners at LoC points but Home Ministry was delaying the process. The MoD is said to have cleared the proposal in this regard. He also disclosed that funds for procurement and installation of full body scanners at both the cross LoC points will be provided by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Government has no role in it. He said the Security and the Customs staff will monitor the full body scanners at these points.
iDeputy Commissioner Poonch, Sajjad Ahmed Khan also stressed for an urgent need to install full body scanner at the LoC points. Referring to the recent development after the recovery of contraband material from a truck coming from PoK side, the DC said such unfortunate developments can be avoided if advanced gadgets are installed at LoC points. He said the proposal is pending before Union Home Ministry. He hoped that after this development, the Home Ministry will take speedy initiative in this regard.
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