Jammu, Oct 22: Amid increased border skirmishes between India and Pakistan, the state and central agencies were Tuesday asked to keep the contingency plan ready to meet any eventuality. Informed sources told Greater Kashmir that the Union Home Minister, Sushilkumar Shinde, who alongwith Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high level security review meeting here, was informed about the challenges security agencies were facing both at internal and external levels. The meeting, according to sources, was informed that more than 40 Indian posts have come under direct attack from Pakistan over the last one week leading even to human losses at some places. It was further claimed that army, manning LoC across the state, has been managing with the existing strength of the troops posted at the forward posts. “Army has complete plan in place in case there was any need for mobilization of more units to strengthen security grid along the LoC”, an official privy to the meeting said. Sources said BSF officials also gave a resume about the situation along the International Border and possible threat of migration by the border residents. They further added that the Union Home Minister laid thrust on ensuring safety of the border residents and for that matter the state and central agencies were asked to keep a contingency plan in place so as to meet any emergent situation. “The Divisional Commissioner and BSF officials informed the meeting about the availability of government buildings near the border areas in Jammu, which could be used as shelters in case of any migration”, sources said. Shinde, they said, also emphasized on ensuring close coordination between the security agencies so as to ensure no infiltration bid is successful. “For that matter the state police and CRPF were asked to assist the forces manning the forward areas so that a three tire security blanket is put in place”. If sources are to be believed besides the law and order situation, the Home Minister also was briefed by the police and civil officials about the steps taken to ensure peace and communal harmony. It was learnt that the intelligence agencies gave a resume about the prevailing situation and recent incidents of communal violence in some parts of Jammu region. The Home Minister, they said, was very particular about this aspect in view of the recent intelligence inputs that some political parties were trying to create communal wedge in various parts of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, ahead of general elections next year. The intelligence agencies were asked to keep close eye on such elements and civil administration should closely monitor the situation besides holding continuous interaction with representatives of all communities. Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Union Home Secretary, Anil Goswami, Secretary RAW, Alok Joshi, Chief Secretary J&K, Muhammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary Home, Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B B Vyas, COS Northern Command, Lt Gen H J S Sachdeva, GOC 16 Corps, D S Hooda, GOC 15 Corps, Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh, GOC 14 Corps, Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma, GOC 9 Corps, Lt Gen Parveen Bakshi, MGGS Northern Command, Maj Gen G S Chandel, GOC 26 Inf Div Maj Gen Ashwani Kumar, GOC 29 Inf Div Major General Balbir Singh, DG BSF, Subash Joshi, Director General Police, Ashok Prasad, DG CRPF, Dalip Trivedi, Special DG CRPF, D K Pathak, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu, Director IB, S. A. Ibrahim, Media Advisor to J&K, Bharti Vaid and other senior civil, police and army officers participated in the meeting. Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Oct 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Oct 2013 18:30:00 GMT Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Oct 2013 00:00:00 IST
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 01:21:36 +0000