Army may take ‘bold steps’ to make LoC safer, more secure

Srinagar: Even as tensions set off by the Centre’s rushing in additional troops and a series of contingency orders issued by the authorities locally persist in Kashmir valley, the focus is likely to shift to the line of control where the Army is reportedly preparing to take some ‘bold steps’ to fight back militants and make the de facto border “safer and more secure against infiltration in the future”.

Back in Srinagar, one of the rumours doing the rounds for past couple of days purports that the Army along with Indian Air Force is launching attacks on what they believe are militant launch-pads across the LoC. Neither the government nor any of its representatives has — officially or privately — denied this.

Those who give credence to this rumour say that Pakistani Army may retaliate to such an offence which could lead to breaking of active hostilities between the two sides, at least, at local levels.

The reinforcements from Central Armed Police Forces, which moved in during the past few days or are on their way, were required to strengthen the counterinsurgency grid to fight back the militants effectively and also contain the law and order situations that may occur internally given the “hostility” of sections of local population, they said.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said that fovernor Satya Pal Malik has assured his party that no moves are planned on repealing Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, or the State’s trifurcation. Mr Abdullah, however, said he wants an assurance on these issues from the Centre in Parliament on Monday

The governor later in a statement said that the security situation in the state has developed in a manner which required immediate action, including deployment of additional troops. He also said that he has no knowledge of any changes to constitutional provisions.

“Therefore, no panic should be created by unnecessarily linking this security matter with all kinds of other issues. A pure security measure is being mixed up with issues with which it has no connection. That is the cause of the panic,” he was quoted in a statement issue by Raj Bhavan.

The Governor reiterated that there were “credible inputs” available to the security agencies about the militants planning terror attacks on the Amarnath yatra.
 
He also said “There has been intensified shelling on the LoC by Pakistan which was responded to effectively by the Army....the seriousness of the threat required immediate action”.
 
Speaking on the advisory asking the Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to return as soon as possible, the statement said, “These are a vulnerable group of people who do not know the area and are extremely vulnerable to a terrorist or a fidayeen attack”. The statement added, “It is the responsibility of the state to provide security to all its citizens. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, the yatris and tourists have been asked to return. This is to ensure that no terrorist attack takes place on them”.