Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 18: Top Army Commanders and heads of all Central Police Forces (CPFs), Intelligence agencies, police and civil administration would tomorrow brief Governor NN Vohra in first meeting of the Unified Headquarters to be chaired by him after imposition of Governor Rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting has been scheduled for 10.30 am at Civil Secretariat.
Official sources told the Excelsior that frequent cross-border firing by Pakistan in Jammu sector, infiltration attempts by the militants, security arrangements in the State in general and in the wake of terror threats on Republic Day in particular and other important issues regarding security scenario in the State would come up for high level review in the meeting of the Unified Headquarters, which is being held for the first time in the past more than three months.
The Governor, who would preside over the meeting, will also get detailed briefing on the situation within the State including number of militants operating, frequent skirmishes along the International Border in Jammu sector leading to migration of the border people, arrangements required to be made for the migrants of borders, situation on the Line of Control (LoC) and general situation in the State.
Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda 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 GOC of Jammu based Tiger Division will be among the top Army Commanders, who would attend the meeting along with Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary Home Suresh Kumar, DGP K Rajendra, 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 Unified Headquarters would have special focus on border firing leading to frequent migration of the people living within the firing range and steps required for their safety as a number of them were killed or injured in Pakistan shelling and firing last year and first fortnight of this month.
Even as all border people numbering about 10,000, who had migrated to safer locations in Samba and Hiranagar after heavy mortar shelling and firing from Pakistan side killed three persons including two BSF jawans and a woman and injured 10 others, today returned to their houses following a week of lull on the International Border in both the sectors, the Government of India has already directed the State to identify land in safer areas for allotment of 5 marlas plots to the people living within four to five kilometers range of the border.
The Government of India has indicated that it could even help the people in construction of one or two rooms in safer zones and pucca bunkers on the IB to prevent their casualties in case of sudden firing by the Pakistani Rangers.
Sources said the Governor was expected to debate the issues related to border firing and steps to mitigate sufferings of the border people in the meeting of Unified Headquarters, where top brass of all security, police and Intelligence agencies and civil administration will be present.
“Apart from border firing and migration, the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir will also come up for high level review in the meeting. All agencies would give their opinion on the militancy related situation, infiltration attempts by the militants, better co-ordination and liaison among security agencies and, above all, steps required to thwart possible attempts by the militants to disturb Republic Day celebrations in the State in view of United States President Barrack Obama’s visit to India on that day,’’ sources said.
“Several other security and Intelligence related issues would also be discussed in the meeting,’’ sources said adding that GOC of Leh based 14 Corps Lt Gen BS Negi would give a briefing to the Governor on the situation prevailing along Indo-China Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Leh. Representatives of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which is guarding frontiers along China in Leh, will also attend the meeting of the Unified Headquarters.
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