Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 20: Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag today called for strengthening Security Grids in Kashmir, both anti-infiltration and anti-militancy, and strict surveillance on prevailing unrest in Kashmir as he called for close co-ordination among Army, police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Intelligence agencies to tackle the situation.
On his first visit to the Valley after present disturbances broke out on July 8 immediately after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen divisional commander Burhan Wani, Gen Suhag chaired high level security review meetings at 15 Corps Headquarters in Srinagar, Kupwara division and Awantipora based Victor Force and met the senior Army Commanders to assess the situation prevailing in the Valley and the Line of Control (LoC).
Sources told the Excelsior that Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda and GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen SK Dua gave detailed briefing to the Army chief soon after his arrival at 15 Corps Headquarters in Srinagar this morning on the overall situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir with particular reference to Kashmir unrest after Burhan Wani’s killing in which over 40 persons have been killed and more than 3000 injured including 1500 para-military personnel.
Gen Suhag later also had separate meeting with Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar.
Gen Suhag is reported to have stressed for further strengthening anti-infiltration and anti-militancy Security Grids as the militants could try to take advantage of the situation and mix-up with the crowd to hit their targets.
Though both the Security Grids were working well, the Army chief called for further strengthening them to plug infiltration gaps and tackle the militancy in the hinterland. He was of the view that though the present unrest was being dealt with by para-military CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army would assist, if the need arises or if asked for by the Government to meet the exigencies in exceptional cases.
He said the troops should follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) while operating in civilian areas along with para-military or police. The General was briefed that two battalions of the Army have been shifted to the Valley from Jammu region to strengthen positions of the troops though law and order situation was exclusively being dealt by para-military forces and police personnel. The Army was only assisting the para-military and police personnel wherever asked for.
Gen Suhag had extensive review of operational preparedness of the Army on the Line of Control (LoC) and hinterland to counter infiltration attempts and bring down the graph of militancy. He called for plugging all gaps along LoC in all sectors of the Valley to stop infiltration as there had been reports that some successful infiltrations had already taken place this summer and more militants were waiting to intrude across the LoC.
Sources said the Army chief was given detailed briefing in Kupwara Division on infiltration by the militants and intrusion bids foiled by the Army along the LoC this summer. He called for strengthening anti-infiltration Grid to ensure that no more militants were able to infiltrate into the Valley.
On law and order situation, the Army Commanders apprised Gen Suhag that only two incidents have taken place during 12 days long unrest involving Army, the latest one being on Monday evening at Qazigund in which three civilians, two of them women, were killed as the troops had to open firing when mobs tried to snatch their weapons, where they had gone to assist police in arresting the stone pelters. In another incident, prior to Qazigund, three civilians were injured when troops retaliated to thwart mob attempt to storm their camp.
The Army chief called for coordination among Army, para-military forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Intelligence agencies in dealing with the present unrest as well as militancy and infiltration to restore peace and normalcy in the Kashmir valley.
Gen Suhag stressed for alleviating hardships being faced by the local population due to prevailing unrest in the Valley.
In his meeting with the DGP, he assured the State police chief that the Army would help State police and para-military forces whenever asked for to meet with any eventuality. He lauded the excellent synergy between Army, police and all other security and Intelligence agencies operating in the Valley.
In his interaction with officers and troops, the Army chief commended their operational preparedness and commitment to the cause of national security. He exhorted everyone to ensure strict vigil along the Line of Control.
Appreciating the synergy being shown among all security agencies that has resulted in successful counter terrorist operations, sources said Gen Singh also complimented the troops on ground for showing maximum restraint even in the face of grave provocation.
He expressed his grief and concern over the casualties of civilians and security forces during the protests while making an earnest appeal to the people to maintain peace and help the security forces serve them better.
The Army chief also impressed upon everyone to continue their positive engagement with the people and lend them all possible assistance in close coordination with the other stakeholders.
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