Targeted killings of BJP leaders, PRI members discussed
Border scenario in wake of Taliban surge also figures
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 24: Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla held a high-level review of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir along with top brass of police and Intelligence officers of the Union Territory and senior security officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Central agencies.
Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh and DGP CID Rashmi Ranjan Swain represented Jammu and Kashmir in the meeting while senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir and Central Security and Intelligence agencies were also present.
While there was no official word on the meeting, sources told the Excelsior that targeted killings especially the BJP leaders, Panchayat members and attacks on the BJP leaders and others reportedly figured prominently in the hour-long meeting.
The Home Ministry is concerned about the killings of BJP leaders, attacks on them, killings of Panchayat members, associated with BJP as well as other parties and Independents in Jammu and Kashmir and wants to ensure safety of all Panchayati Raj members as well as political leaders.
“A strategy has been devised to protect the political leaders and members of Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies among others,” sources said, adding all security agencies have been directed to ensure protection of Panchayat, Municipalities members and political activists, who are high on target list of several militant outfits.
During past few months, a number of BJP leaders including Panchayat members have been killed and injured in the targeted killings by the militants. A BJP leader, who happened to be the Mandal president of Rajouri, was also attacked with grenade attack in which his two-year-old nephew was killed and seven family members including the BJP leader himself were injured,
Apart from the targeted killings, sources pointed out situation along the borders also figured prominently in the meeting especially in the wake of Taliban taking over the control of Afghanistan.
Security agencies are keeping fingers crossed but are confident that they are well prepared to meet any kind of challenges posed by Taliban and Pakistan militant outfits supported by Taliban. However, they stressed that there was need for security forces to maintain very high alert on both Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) to meet with any threat.
“Apart from Taliban challenge situation along LoC and IB is quite peaceful since February 25 fresh ceasefire agreement between Indo-Pak troops except drone threats. Drones are repeatedly being used by militants or Pakistani troops to drop weapons on this side of militants in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Punjab. Several such attempts have been thwarted by Army and Border Security Force (BSF),” sources said, adding that measures to counter increasing drone droppings along the borders are afoot.
In some of the border areas, anti-drone equipments have been installed while in other areas also this will be done shortly.
Though law and order situation is well under control, sources said it was being constantly reviewed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Various other issues of security importance including grants for the Police Department were also reportedly discussed at the meeting,” sources said.
It may be mentioned here that a delegation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs had visited the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on over a weeklong visit during which they met top officers of civil administration in Kashmir, chairpersons of District Development Councils and Block Development Councils, business and tour and travel operators’ delegations besides visiting Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camps. In Jammu also, they met delegations and reviewed Disaster Management Plan of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine . In Leh, the PSC on Home Affairs had met top officers of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), representatives of Union Territory administration and Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil.
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