NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday chaired a high-level meet with the top Intelligence and paramilitary brass to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir where two jawans were killed on the LoC by the Pakistan Army and the Naxal areas where the ultra-Left extremists are targeting the security forces in quick succession.
Top Ministry officials led by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi briefed the minister on the situation in the two theatres and action being taken to maximise operational efficiency. Others who briefed Singh included Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Jain, BSF Director General KK Sharma, CRPF boss Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar and others, official sources said.
On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the officials are learnt to have apprised the minister of the growing trend of radicalisation of the youth in the hinterland. On the border and the LoC, the Pakistani agencies have been upping the hostility by seeking to push more infiltrators and the Pak army providing cover fire to the jehadis to sneak inside the Indian side, the sources said. After reviewing the situation, Singh told the officials to be extra vigilant on the borders to check the increasing trend of infiltration. On Monday, the Pakistan army killed a jawan each of the Indian Army and BSF and mutilated their bodies at the LoC.
Now, CRPF to have psychologists
After the deadly attack by Maoists in Sukma on April 24 in which 25 CRPF men were killed, the Centre is now taking steps to gauge the mental aptitude of security men before they are deployed in high-stress areas. For the first time, the CRPF has decided to hire a full-time psychologist not only to undertake special mental health classes but also to treat a variety of stress-related disorders
Issues to be addressed: Suicide, depression, anxiety, social and inter-personal problems, low morale
Evaluation methods: Psychometric tests, interviews, direct observation of behaviour
Processes in focus: Anti-Naxal operations, counter-insurgency and policing duties in J&K