Dras, July 26
Over 90 per cent of the border fencing damaged due to last winter’s heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir has been repaired, while adequate troops deployment and surveillance devices are in place to check infiltration. The infiltration attempts along the high mountain passes have shown a marked increase this month, with two such attempts foiled in Kashmir and Jammu divisions yesterday, the biggest one being in the Gurez sector.

Disclosing this here today, Lt Gen Hari Prasad, GOC-in-C Northern Command, said that the troops were ready on all fronts to frustrate the designs of militants and infiltration attempts from across the borders, which have shown a sudden increase over the past few weeks. He was talking to mediapersons on the occasion of Operation Vijay celebrations at the memorial here today. Deputy Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Mohinder Puri was also present on the occasion. Floral wreaths were paid on the memorial by Lt Gen Mohinder Puri, Lt Gen Hari Prasad, Lt Gen M.L. Naidu, who is the Commander of the Ladakh-based 14 Corpse of the Army, raised after the 1999 Kargil War.

“Infiltration has increased during the month of July… we are ready on all fronts,” Lt Gen Hari Prasad, GOC-in-C Northern Command, said. He said that 90 per cent of the damaged border fencing was repaired and the remaining 10 per cent would be completed within next two weeks. He pointed out that wherever it was not done, troops were adequately deployed and there were proper surveillance measures in place.

Referring to the treacherous terrain along the borders in Ladakh division, Lt Gen Hari Prasad said that the troops were equipped with proper weapon system, equipment and logistics. It was in this region that the intrusion took place in May 1999 leading to about two-month-long confrontation.

Regretting the recent incident of killing of three innocent boys in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, Lt Gen Hari Prasad announced the assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the family of those killed. Three boys were killed in an ambush at Bangargund, Vilgam in Kupwara district on Saturday night. It was the third such incident at the hands of the Army in Kashmir inviting public anger amid its efforts to increase rapport with the people.

The GOC-in-C Northern Command said that Army would provide education free of cost to the children of these families and extend all possible help to them. Asserting that the incident had taken under the circumstances where people were not allowed to move without any torch lights at nights, he said that “this should not hamper the Army’s rapport with the people”.

Addressing the Sainik Sammelan on the occasion, Lt Gen Hari Prasad asked the troops to remain alert and to avoid any infiltration bid in the area for the intrusion had taken place, which led to the Kargil war in 1999. He cautioned the troops against any possible attempts of infiltration in the region and said that the number of infiltrators eliminated by the troops during this month alone was double than those killed last year.

Referring to the challenges faced by the Army in the region, Lt Gen M.L. Naidu, GOC of the 14 Corpse, raised after Kargil war, said even if peace was restored troops had to be alert. He said that troops motivation had to be maintained in the treacherous terrain and weather conditions.

While Army payed tributes to those who were killed in the Kargil, residents of the township lamented over having been kept away from the occasion. “We have fought equally and many of us also laid down their lives,” said the residents who wanted to be part of the occasion at the memorial. Senior citizens of Dras and Kargil, civil and police officers of the Kargil district were also present on the occasion.

It was for the sixth consecutive occasion that Col V.N. Thapar (retd), attended the Operation Vijay Diwas Celebrations here. His son Captain Vijayant Thapar sacrificed his life in the battle on June 28, 1999. He has been coming here every here, though his wife and mother of Captain Vijayant has not been able to come. Captain Vijayant’s mother was the first to get the information about the death of her son, while his father, Col Thapar was away in south in connection with a court martial. He craves for restoration of peace in the region so that there is no war.

Jammu, July 26
Following sudden step-up in militancy-related violence, the government is contemplating major reshuffle of high-ups of the police in Jammu and Kashmir.

Inside reports said one central intelligence agency had conveyed to the Union Home Ministry that some senior police officers were not cooperating with the security agencies in operations against militants.

According to another report, a senior functionary of the civil administration had directed the police to arrest a leader of a militant outfit, but the orders were not implemented.

As reports of major reshuffle made the round in the Civil Secretariat and the police headquarters, more than three officers, including Mr Kuldeep Khuda, Additional Director-General CID, Mr P.S. Gill, Additional Director-General Armed Police, and Mr Ashok Bhan, Additional Director-General Vigilance, were said to be lobbying for the post of Director-General Police, held by Mr Gopal Sharma.

Mr Sharma has headed the police for the past two years. The Union Home Ministry is in favour of an officer who has the reputation of being very stern to head the police in Jammu and Kashmir.

At present, Mr Rajinder Tikoo is the seniormost officer holding the rank of DG Administration and if the government gives weight to seniority, Mr Tikoo could be considered for the post of DG, Police.

Another report said officers holding the rank of Additional Director-General have been tried on various assignments but some of them lack the verve and others are known to be one time loyalists of Dr Farooq Abdullah. In this context the Union Home Ministry is said to be exploring the possibility of sending a senior officer from outside the state to head the police in Jammu and Kashmir.

Giving responsibility to an officer from outside the state for organising the police in Jammu and Kashmir has been tested successfully in the past. It was Mr Gurbachan Jagat, belonging to the Punjab Police cadre, who was installed DG, Police, in Jammu and Kashmir in 1997.

He was successful in reorganising the police whose jawans and officers were demoralised and disoriented following the rise of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in 1989.

In case the government opts for a change of guard in the police headquarters, reshuffle of officers of the ranks of IGs, DIGs and SSPs will follow.

Along with the reshuffle several officers of the ranks of DIG and SP were being promoted to higher ranks.

This is being done to give a new look to the top echelons of the police so that the activities and the designs of the militants were foiled.

The state government is also in favour of giving a bigger role to the police in anti-insurgency operations so that the level of human rights violations being committed by the Army and paramilitary forces was drastically reduced thereby facilitating cooperation from people in assisting the security forces in the elimination and arrest of militants.