Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 12: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said today that all security agencies should take all pre-emptive steps to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir including the borders but ensure that there was no collateral damage or civilian casualties during search and cordon operations. At the same time, he called for intensified vigil along the borders to keep the militants away. He stressed that all security agencies operating in the State must try to show “humane face’ to the people to win over their hearts and minds.
With tourist season setting-in in the next few days, the Chief Minister called upon civil administration and all security agencies to make the tourists including pilgrim tourists feel free in the State as vast population of Jammu and Kashmir was dependent on the tourism season.
The directions were passed by Mufti Sayeed while chairing first meeting of the Unified Headquarters after taking over as the Chief Minister on March 1. The meeting, held at official residence of the Chief Minister, was attended by top brass of all security agencies including Army, police, para-military forces, Intelligence agencies and civil administration and lasted nearly three hours from 11 am to 1.45 pm.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Chief Minister called for holding of Civil Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) as soon as possible to discuss all land related disputes of Army with civil administration or local people so that they were sorted out immediately. He is reported to have asked Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey to call the CMLC at the earliest to resolve the land related disputes.
The Army Commanders present at the meeting including Northern Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda and GOCs of Nagrota, Srinagar, Leh and Yol Cantonment Corps strongly projected the case of land for practice firing as lease of Tosa Maidaan and Kaleeth firing ranges were not extended, which was causing immense problems to the Army in practice. The issue was, however, referred to the CMLC.
Sources said there was passing reference to Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the Unified Headquarters meeting and most likely it would be discussed in one-to-one meeting between the Chief Minister and the Northern Army Command chief later.
Again, there was passing reference to release of separatists Masrat Alam as the Chief Minister reportedly wanted to know whether the release could have any impact on peaceful environment. However, the Intelligence, police and other security agencies were reported to have said that it wouldn’t impact the current prevailing peace.
Sources said the Chief Minister wanted Army, para-military forces and police to present humane face before the public, have regular inter-actions with the people and win over their hearts and minds by ensuring that there was no collateral damage during search, cordon and anti-militancy operations and human rights are maintained at any cost.
“The peace must prevail in Jammu and Kashmir so that the tourists including pilgrim tourists come in the large number in the State, which would directly benefit the people,” he reportedly said and called upon the security agencies to make congenial atmosphere for that. The Chief Minister also holds the charge of Tourism Ministry.
Sources said Sayeed wanted to ascertain from security forces the factors that led educated Kashmiri youth to join militancy especially during the recent times in Tral, Shopian and Kulgam areas. The joining of militancy by some local youths has been confirmed even by the security forces.
He stressed that operations undertaken by the security forces were required to be made more accountable. Significantly, the Mufti sought free and fair views from the participants on the security scenario and called upon them not to give just official figures and version.
“My Government wants to follow clear economic plan under Agenda of the Alliance and therefore free and fair views from the top brass were must,” he reportedly said.
According to sources, an Intelligence official was of the view that security environment in Jammu and Kashmir remained challenging and listing some figures in support of his claim. He opened that there was complete backing to the militancy by Pakistan.
The security officers apprised the Chief Minister that number of the local militants has come down in the past one decade.
Mufti Sayeed described peace as indispensable to achieve the goals set in the Agenda for Alliance and sought cooperation from Army, police and civil administration in creating peace and implement his agenda of good governance and development. He called for an integrated plan to address security and development concerns.
Sources said a senior Army Commander drew attention to “intellectual subversion” being raised through the social media. He called for setting up of a panel of experts to address the issue as it had the potential of creating fresh terrorists. He also highlighted problems being faced by the population living beyond the LoC and infrastructure required
The meeting also noted with concern the visits of Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharief and United Jehad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salah-ud-Din to Sialkot and Muzaffarabad respectively few days back.
Mufti Sayeed called upon Army and BSF to maintain strict surveillance along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) to keep the militants away from Jammu and Kashmir as the Army Commanders and the BSF officers briefed the meeting that there was large presence of militants across LoC and IB and they were determined to sneak into the State to disturb peace.
The Army, BSF and police officers briefed the Home Minister about the steps taken to strengthen the Counter-Infiltration Grid along LoC and IB and measures in place to keep militancy and law and order under check in the hinterland to maintain peace in the State. Sayeed complimented security forces, police and all other agencies but at the same time cautioned them not to lower their vigil along the borders and other areas,
Sources said the issue of border people, who had been bearing the brunt of Pakistan shelling and firing also figured prominently in the Unified Headquarters meeting. A proposal for allotment of 5 marla plots to the border dwellers, construction of concrete bunkers for them and other steps taken to save them from the firing was discussed. The civil administration has prepared the proposal on directions of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and it would be soon submitted to him.
The Chief Minister called for maintaining complete transparency in all the operations and co-ordination among all security, Intelligence agencies, police and civil administration.
He took stock of the law and order situation and number of infiltration attempts made by terrorists from across the border since January 20 when the last Unified Headquarters meeting was chaired by Governor N N Vohra.
During the meeting, Sayeed thanked the security agencies and the Army for ensuring smooth conduct of peaceful elections in the state, sources said.
“You have given us a suitable environment for elections and now it is the duty of my Government to build on this peace,” Sayeed said.
An official handout said Mufti Sayeed sought cooperation from Army, police and civil administration in creating a peaceful environment to enable the new Government to implement its agenda of good governance and development brought in for the people of the State.
The Chief Minister complimented the participants in playing their role in strengthening the institution of democracy. He stressed upon the need for adopting a humane approach while dealing with law-and-order situations and exercising zero tolerance towards human rights’ violations.
“The polls have been held in a very conducive atmosphere. We need to build upon the dividends for putting in place an effective and vibrant governance mechanism for seeking all-round development of the three regions for converting J&K into a self-reliant State,” he added.
Terming the formation of the new Government as a historic opportunity to usher in a new era for sustained peace and equitable development, the Mufti said the new dispensation will give its people an honest and accountable Government and implement its Agenda of the Alliance.
“The people’s mandate has been historic and we have come together to change their future. They have gone through difficult times. We need to return the favour by giving them a Government that means business and is alive to their expectations. Without peace, the goals will be difficult to achieve,” he stated while complimenting the security forces and the civil administration for their agility and coordination in bringing in a perceptible change on the ground and maintaining peace in the State.
Spelling out his agenda of governance, the Chief Minister thanked the Union Government for agreeing on all points mentioned in the Agenda of the Alliance which will be the guiding framework for governance of the coalition Government.
During the briefing by respective agencies about the present security scenario and law-and-order situation, Sayeed highlighted the need for putting an integrated plan in place for addressing security and development concerns and requirement for dealing in certain difficult areas.
On the issue of firing in border areas from across the IB & LoC, he called for enhanced vigil and asked the administration to provide shelter and all basic facilities to the people displaced at the time of firing.
On array of issues related to internal security and manning LoC and the International Border and land-related issues, the Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to shortly convene a Civil-Military Liaison (CML) meeting to iron out and resolve all pending issues.
During the meeting, the issue of use of modern technology and equipment for better surveillance was also discussed.
In his address, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh said the new PDP-BJP Government will focus on economic and social issues confronting the State for which a peaceful environment has to be put in place.
He said everybody will be taken on board to meet the challenges that the Government will face in strengthening the democratic institutions so that the people bear the fruits of good governance.
Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khanday, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen D S Hooda, Director General of Police, K Rajendra, Special DG, CRPF (North Zone), J&K, R. C. Tayal, GOC 16 Corps, Lt Gen K H Singh, GOC 15 Corps, Lt. Gen, Subrat Saha, GOC 14 Corps, Lt Gen B S Negi, GOC 9 Corps, Lt Gen Rajiv Tiwari, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister B B Vyas, Principal Secretary Home, Suresh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Shant Manu, IGP CID Dr B Srinivas, IGP Kashmir Zone AG Mir, IGP Jammu Zone Rajesh Kumar, IG CRPF Jammu, Additional Commissioner SB, Jammu, Joint Director IB Kashmir, Officiating IG, BSF Kashmir and Deputy Director (SIB), Jammu attended the meeting among others.
Follow our WhatsApp channel