J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

15,000 securitymen to guard yatra
Jammu, June 23
During a review of the security scenario in the state, measures were taken for making available between 10,000 and 15,000 security personnel for ensuring incident-free ensuing annual Amarnath yatra.

Poor coordination among security agencies
Jammu, June 23
The recent swift operation by the security forces in clearing areas around the Sangral post in R.S. Pora of Pakistani intruders, has highlighted lack of coordination among various security agencies.

Jammu varsity ready to receive Kalam
Jammu, June 23
A special convocation robe with 4-inch-wide gold-thread work is awaiting President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at Jammu University’s convocation ceremony on Thursday, for which preparations have been completed.

Video

The Dalai Lama visits villages of the Kargil region. (28k, 56k)

15,000 securitymen to guard yatra
Our Correspondent

Jammu, June 23
During a review of the security scenario in the state, measures were taken for making available between 10,000 and 15,000 security personnel for ensuring incident-free ensuing annual Amarnath yatra.

Security arrangements for the yatra formed the part of the agenda discussed between senior functionaries of the Union Home Ministry and the Kashmir police in Delhi recently. Both sides agreed that the police, paramilitary forces and the Army be deployed right from Jammu to the holy cave to prevent rebels from disrupting the pilgrimage.

During the meeting, in which the Union Home Ministry team was headed by Mr Ashok Bhandari, Special Secretary, the two sides also discussed the overall security situation in the state with reference to the level of ingress and egress.

According to official sources, the ministry team was informed that while the level of egress was marginal, but that of infiltration continued though the rate had considerably gone down during the past two months.

It was disclosed that better border management had further reduced the level of infiltration from across Rajouri and Kupwara but the situation was yet to witness a marked change in Poonch sector.

The recent Hill Kaka operation in the Surankot area of Poonch had a major impact on the security situation in the sense that rebels had been forced to be on the run in an area which they had converted into safe sanctuaries for the past over four years.

Poor coordination among security agencies
Our Correspondent

Jammu, June 23
The recent swift operation by the security forces in clearing areas around the Sangral post in R.S. Pora of Pakistani intruders, has highlighted lack of coordination among various security agencies.

Though reports of intrusion by Pakistani troops into the Indian territory in the Sangral had been sent to the Army authorities by a security agency nine months ago, no action was taken to demolish permanent Pakistani bunkers in the Indian side.

Reports said during the Indian military build-up on the border, a security agency had monitored unusual activities by Pakistani troops in the Sangral area. The agency had in writing conveyed to the Army authorities that the enemy troops had moved up to 50 metres inside the Indian territory and built permanent bunkers.

According to these reports, the intrusion was on the pattern witnessed in Kargil in 1999. It was after the withdrawal of the troops from the international border that the report on the intrusion had been confirmed. The matter was discussed at a series of meetings of senior Army and BSF functionaries that an action plan was formulated under which the security forces launched swift operations during the night to smash the bunkers and clear the area of the intruders.

The Union Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry had ordered a probe that could help prevent such incidents from recurring.

Jammu varsity ready to receive Kalam
Tribune News Service & PTI

Jammu, June 23
A special convocation robe with 4-inch-wide gold-thread work is awaiting President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at Jammu University’s convocation ceremony on Thursday, for which preparations have been completed.

“All arrangements for the 11th special convocation of Jammu University have been done,” Vice-Chancellor Amitabh Mattoo said here today.

Meanwhile, Jammu University will shortly install its own FM radio channel to exploit the talent of the students of the centre for media studies which is being established here.

Stating this here today, the Vice-Chancellor said the channel would function round the clock.

He said by next year a centre for media studies to train budding journalists of the print and electronic media would be established. Editors and journalists of repute would be invited to deliver lectures.