Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 11: The first meeting of Unified Headquarters in 11 days regime of PDP-BJP Government, the highest level body for discussions on security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, will be chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who also holds the charge of Home Minister, at his official residence here at 11 am tomorrow.
“Entire gamut of security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir ranging from situation in internal areas to the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), working of Counter-Infiltration Grid, number of militants within the State and their capability to strike and measures taken by all security agencies to maintain peace in the State would figure in the meeting,’’ official sources told the Excelsior.
This will be the first meeting of the Unified Headquarters, which comprised top brass of Army, para-military forces, police, Intelligence agencies and civil administration, after Mufti Sayeed took over as the Chief Minister on March 1. Governor NN Vohra had chaired the Unified Headquarters meeting on January 20 during the Governor’s rule.
Though the meeting comes in the wake of controversy shrouding release of separatist Masrat Alam, sources said the release of Alam or any other separatist would not be part of the Unified Headquarters, where only security situation and related aspects and steps to strengthen Intelligence and security mechanism, co-ordination among various security agencies and related matters would be discussed.
While the Chief Minister would chair the meeting, prominent among those scheduled to attend it included Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Northern Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Home Secretary Suresh Kumar, Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar and General Officers Commanding (GOCs) of all 4 Corps operating in the State including Lt Gen KH Singh (Nagrota based 16 Corps), Lt Gen Subrata Saha (Srinagar based 15 Corps), Lt Gen BS Negi (Leh based 14 Corps) and Lt Gen Rajeev Tiwari (Yol Cantonment based 9 Corps) apart from GOCs of Jammu based Tiger Division and Rajouri Division, Special DG CRPF, IGs of CRPF (both Jammu and Srinagar), IGs of BSF (both Jammu and Srinagar), Divisional Commissioners of both Jammu and Kashmir provinces, IGPs of Jammu, Kashmir and CID and heads of all Intelligence agencies (both Central and State), posted here.
Sources said the Chief Minister would like to acquaint himself with complete security scenario in hinterland of Jammu and Kashmir mainly with respect to the militancy, steps taken by the agencies for anti-militancy operations, avoiding collateral damage during search, cordon and other such operations, maintaining human rights, security along the LoC and IB especially the summer strategy, co-ordination among various security agencies and other issues.
According to sources, the Unified Headquarters could discuss the proposal ready for rehabilitation of border migrants in safer zones in the eventuality of Pakistan’s mortar shelling and firing along the International Border, a proposal for which has already been mooted on the directions of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Another signification proposal for construction of embankments along the 198 kilometers IB could also be discussed in the meeting.
Sources said the Chief Minister was likely to pass directions to all security agencies on the steps required to be taken while dealing with different kind of situation especially during the anti-militancy operations in residential areas so that the collateral damage was avoided and common man not harassed.
Several other wide ranging security related issues pertaining to internal and external threats, successes in 2014 and challenges in 2015, frequent firing on the border and clearance for firing ranges will also be taken up at first meeting of the Unified Headquarters in the present dispensation. The Army has been pressing hard for restoration of space for firing ranges as it was suffering after Tosa Maidaan and Kaleeth firing ranges were taken back during the previous Government.
Sources said the threat of Taliban and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) could also figure during the meeting. The security agencies were of the view that threat was more serious from Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) than Taliban and ISIS.
“The successes achieved by Army, police and para-military forces in eliminating and apprehending the militants in 2014 and challenges during 2015 could be debated threadbare,’’ sources said.
They added that the Unified Headquarters could debate the progress on the proposal for allotment of 5 marlas plots to the border migrants in safer zones and construction of concrete bunkers at their present place to save them from sudden firing or shelling on the International Border, which is due to be submitted to the MHA. Apart from Pakistan, the situation prevailing along China border in Leh could also come up for review with Army Commanders including Leh based 14 Corps GOC and ITBP head. Frequent incursions by Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been checked to quite some extent after pro-active approach by India, they said.
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