HM reviews situation with NSA, LG, top brass
Political prisoners, curbs discussed
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 24: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir including the borders with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu and top officials of the MHA, J&K Government and paramilitary forces with focus on detention of political leaders, internet restrictions, anti-militancy operations and thinning presence of para-military forces in the Union Territory following normal conditions in the Valley.
Hours after the meeting, the MHA came out with an order directing withdrawal of 72 companies of para-military forces comprising 7200 personnel from Jammu and Kashmir.
An order issued by the Ministry of Homes Affairs said the matter has been reviewed in the Ministry and it has been decided to withdraw 72 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) from Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect.
The companies will revert back to their respective locations, the order said.
As many as 24 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 12 each from Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are being withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir, the MHA order issued by Mukesh Taterway, Second-in-Command (G), said.
Only few days back following eruption of violence in some parts of the country in the wake of Citizenship Amendment Act, the MHA had withdrawn about 50 companies of para-military forces from the Kashmir valley and deployed them in Assam.
Large number of companies of the para-military forces had been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir prior to scrapping of special Constitutional provisions of the erstwhile State and its bifurcation into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh on August 5.
Today’s meeting by the MHA was the first high-level security review meeting chaired by the Home Minister at North Block which was also attended by first Lieutenant Governor of J&K, who had taken over affairs of the Union Territory on October 31 after the State of J&K for formally bifurcated into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh,
Besides Shah, Doval and Murmu, the meeting was also attended by Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla, Advisor to MHA on J&K and North East K Vijay Kumar, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, CRPF Director General Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar and Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh.
Though there was no official word either from the MHA or the Union Territory Government on the meeting that lasted four hours, sources told the Excelsior that entire gamut of security situation in J&K including the borders and public issues came up for high-level review.
Shah was reported to have reviewed the detention of number of political leaders since August 5 in Kashmir including three former Chief Ministers-Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and several other senior politicians of various political parties within the Valley as well as outside the Union Territory.
The Union Territory Government had few days back sent around 40 names to the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration of release. Number of political leaders including Dr Abdullah have been detained under the Public Safety Act. The PSA detention of Dr Abdullah was extended for three months only recently.
Release of political leaders and phase-wise withdrawal of internet restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir figured in the meeting, sources said, but added that a decision has been left to the Union Territory administration depending on the situation. However, they added, broadband services could be restored in phases in the Valley. These services are already functional in Jammu region.
The political leaders were detained and mobile internet services were snapped by the Government on August 5 following withdrawal of special Constitutional provisions of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Stepping-up of counter-militancy operations in the Kashmir Valley during winter was also discussed at the meeting amid reports that some infiltration attempts by the militants have been successful post August 5 while the ultras from upper reaches have also come down to plains following heavy snowfall,” sources said, adding that a strategy in this regard has been worked out.
There have been reports that some militants have also sent feelers for surrender, they said.
Situation prevailing along the borders where Pakistan army continued to facilitate infiltration attempts by the militants also came up for high-level review with the Union Territory Government representatives giving detailed feedback to the Union Home Minister.
Pakistan army has repeatedly been violating ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir with a view to push trained militants into Jammu and Kashmir. However, the International Border was virtually calm barring occasional firing by the Pakistani Rangers in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. Indian Army has inflicted heavy casualties and infrastructural damages on Pakistani troops in retaliatory action on LoC.
According to sources, various other aspects of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir including pace of developmental works were also discussed at the meeting.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government representatives were also reported to have raised number of issues pertaining to development, security and political prisoners before the Union Home Minister.
“There was general perception that situation in entire Jammu and Kashmir including the Valley was completely peaceful and there were no major incidents in any part of the Union Territory. However, there was consensus that situation still required strict vigil and surveillance,” sources said.
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