Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: While stressing for strengthening of security along the borders, All India Anti-Terrorist Front (ATF) chairman Maninderjit Singh Bitta today said that there was no need to withdraw Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State as the people were not secure and terrorists are still targeting various places.
Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Bitta said, “There is no need of withdrawing AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Abdullah should not keep demanding for it,” Mr Bitta maintained.
The ATF chairman was here in the town to visit the border belts of Samba and Hiranagar (Kathua) in view of twin militant attacks which claimed nine lives including that of an Army Officer.
“Does Mr Abdullah want to sacrifice lives of people of the State by withdrawing AFSPA from the sensitive State?” he questioned.
The State Government should also frame a policy for the benefit of families of the martyred jawans, he demanded.
Mr Bitta alleged that yesterday’s Fidayeen attack was security lapse and security all along the border should be intensified. The concerned unit people including post level head should be held responsible. “There was a total security lapse behind the attacks,” he said, adding the militants travelled from border to Hiranagar and then to Samba but there was no check on the way.
“After they attacked the police station Hiranagar, nobody bothered to chase and target them,” Mr Bitta said.
The ATF chairman also blamed the Centre for not being tough against Pakistan over terrorism. “Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh should not hold talks with Nawaz Sharif at the sidelines US General Assembly on September 29,” he added.
Bharat Bhandari, State Unit President of ATF was also present in the press conference.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel