Killing of civilians: LG likely to chair security meeting; SFs on high-alert
In the backdrop of recent killing of three civilians in back-to-back militant attacks in Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is likely to chair a high level security meeting to enhance vigil and curb such incidents in future. Moreover, the security forces have asked to stay alert and maintain stern vigil across the Union Territory.
Sources said that LG will chair a security review meeting in which he will take a detailed review of the existing security arrangements in the Valley. The meeting is likely to be attended by top officials of police and paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies.
“The discussions are expected to revolve around the security scenario in the valley and threat perception from the militants,” said a source.
They added LG will also take review about the various other security measures that have been taken in order to strengthen the security grid of the Valley including the strengthening of checkpoints at the sensitive locations across the Valley.
In the past few weeks, attacks on civilians have increased. “Around 23 political workers and civilians were killed so far in Kashmir division by the gunmen in target killing,” an official said.
Divulging more details, he said that the Srinagar district witnessed eight killings followed by five from Kulgam, four from Tral area of Awantipora police district, two each from Baramulla and Anantnag and one each from Budgam and Bandipora.
Shopian and Pulwama police district in South Kashmir known as the hot bed of militancy witnessed zero civilian or political killing this year while Ganderbal in Central Kashmir and Kupwara from North Kashmir also haven’t witnessed any such incident so far.
Top sources in the Police said that the security has been put on high alert across the Kashmir valley.
“There is an increase in the number of Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel as well as paramilitary forces on ground. More Barricades have been put in place in many areas of the city especially on the routes that are coming from the different districts towards Srinagar,” sources said.
On Tuesday within a span of sixty minutes, three civilians were killed in separate attacks.
Reportedly, the Resistance Front (TRF), has claimed responsibility for the attack near Srinagar’s Iqbal Park.
First killing happened of a famous chemist ML Bindroo who was shot at just outside his shop. After that a nonlocal vendor in Lal bazar area of Srinagar was shot at and later within an hour in a third attack a local was shot by unidentified gunmen in Bandipora district.
Sources said that soon after the attack there were major searches in different areas of the Srinagar city to nab the attackers.
As per the home ministry data up to march, 2021, at least 59 civilians have been killed and 168 others injured in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
However the data also suggested that no civilians were killed in a law and order situation since the abrogation of Article 370 in the newly formed Union Territory.
Meanwhile the Shiv Sena’s Jammu and Kashmir unit staged a protest over the killing of three civilians in the Union Territory.
An SSDF (Shiv Sena Dogra Front) member said “Makhan Lal Bindroo was a chemist shop owner who provided medicines to people and kept them alive. He was one of the oldest Kashmiri Pandits living here and never left. They killed him. They also killed a Muslim who was a transport business owner. Not only this, but they also killed a street hawker from Bihar”.
He further said, “They are killing Kashmiri Pandits who have been promised that they will get their lands and homes back. It’s a plot against Kashmiri Pandits by the ones who have encroached on the lands. They don’t want the Kashmiri Pandits to come back and become the rightful owners of their lands. They want to destroy this whole system that has been made for the Pandits”.
