E-Paper
Mehbooba Mufti directs forces to ensure peace during Ramzan, Amarnath Yatra
The CM asked the agencies to synchronize efforts and adopt a calibrated response to various situations during Ramzan, the upcoming tourist season and the Hindu pilgrimage, Amarnath Yatra — from mid-May to late August.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday asked security forces to ensure a secure and hassle-free environment for people during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.
At a meeting of top officials of various security agencies in the state, Mufti advised them to ensure safety and security of the public and their properties, while dealing with security and law and order related incidents, a government spokesman said.
She asked the agencies to synchronize efforts and adopt a calibrated response to various situations during Ramzan, the upcoming tourist season and the Hindu pilgrimage, Amarnath Yatra — from mid-May to late August.
The unified headquarters meeting came days after Mufti chaired an all-party meet and urged the Centre to halt security operations during the religious occasions.
More than 60 people — including militants, civilians and security personnel — have been killed in encounters and clashes in the last two months.
The proposal was opposed by BJP, which is the ally of Mufti’s PDP, on the grounds that a unilateral ceasefire was “not in the national interest”.
The Indian Army too is opposed to a unilateral ceasefire in the state. Senior officials who did not want to be named cited the increase in militant-initiated strikes during the last truce, announced by then-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, between December 2000 and May 2001.
The army is worried that something similar could happen in the event of a ceasefire now.
Mufti, however, underscored the need for engaging meaningfully with the people, particularly youth, during the unified headquarters meet.
“She stressed on increased community policing activities and enhanced outreach by the administration,” the spokesman said.
Deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta, chief secretary B B Vyas, DGP S P Vaid, GoC-in-C, Northern Command Lt Gen Devraj Anbu, principal secretary (home) R K Goyal, principal secretary to chief minister Rohit Kansal, ADGP, CID, A G Mir, Kashmir divisional commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan, inspectors general of JK Police, BSF and CRPF, Jammu & Kashmir Frontiers and other senior officers attended the meet.
