Development, winter management strategy discussed
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 12: Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a review of situation prevailing in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in New Delhi with special reference to targeted civilian killings and winter management strategy especially the intensified operations against the militants including the hybrid who are engaged in killing of the civilians, some of them being non-locals and from minorities.
Sinha is likely to have couple of more meetings in New Delhi tomorrow morning before returning here in the afternoon. During his four days stay in the Union capital, he attended one-day Conference of Governors and Lieutenant Governors which was addressed among others by President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Vankaiah Naidu and was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. He also separately met a number of Governors and Lieutenant Governors on the sidelines of the conference.
While there was no official word on the meeting Sinha had with Shah, sources said various aspects of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir came up for review as both Centre and UT Governments were concerned over targeted civilian killings by the hybrid militants which were aimed at instilling fear among the non-locals and minorities and had the potential of leading to migration if not checked further.
More than a dozen civilians have been killed in targeted violence in the Kashmir valley while, at the same time, security forces have eliminated several militants including top commanders of various outfits and also nabbed hybrid militants responsible for the killings.
“Shah and Sinha were understood to have discussed the measures being taken by the Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Jammu and Kashmir Police to protect habitations of minorities and the migrant employees who could be potential targets of the militants. In such a situation, their protection has become absolutely necessary,” sources said.
However, both Centre and UT Governments were confident that activities of the militants will be fully checked especially after deployment of 55 more companies of para-military forces in the Kashmir Valley including 30 from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 25 of the Border Security Force (BSF) and more bunkers coming up in the vulnerable areas.
“Operations against the militants are being intensified in Kashmir during the winters when some of the ultras hiding in upper reaches are expected to come down to the plains because of heavy snowfall in the mountains,” sources said.
The Lieutenant Governor is reported to have briefed the Union Home Minister on ongoing development projects and works in Jammu and Kashmir and pace being given to them by the Union Territory administration in liaison with the Ministry of Home Affairs officials. It may be mentioned here that the MHA officials Incharge Jammu and Kashmir desk and J&K civil administration are in constant touch with each other over developmental projects and works and the Central grants, wherever required.
Sources said various other issues also came up for discussions during the meeting the Lieutenant Governor had with the Union Home Minister.
Shah had visited Jammu and Kashmir for four days from October 23-26 and devoted most of the time of his tour to Kashmir. However, he had addressed a public rally in Jammu on October 24, visited the International Border (IB) at Makwal and met with some delegations.
Sources said apart from meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attending one-day conference of Governors and Lieutenant Governors in New Delhi, Sinha also met a number of Governors and Lieutenant Governors of various States and Union Territories in New Delhi who had turned up for the meeting addressed by the President and Vice President of India among others.
He also called on some other representatives of the Central Government.
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