J&K Governor Asks Security Forces to Ensure Zero Collateral Damage

SRINAGAR: Seeking close and effective coordination between police and other security agencies in talking militancy and infiltration attempts, J&K Governor N N Vohra Tuesday asked security forces to ensure zero collateral damage to civilian population during anti-militancy operation in the State.

Vohra chaired a meeting of the Unified Command Headquarters comprising top officials of army, police, paramilitary, intelligence agencies and civil administration.

The meeting was held at Civil Secretariat, Jammu to review the security situation in the State following recent encounters between militants and security forces and continued ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops at Line of Control (LoC) and (International Border).

“The meeting deliberated on various important issues relating to the internal and external security situation in the State,” an official spokesman said.

It was the first meeting of Unified Command Headquarters in the State after imposition of Governor’s rule on January 8.

The spokesman said security officials briefed the Governor about the measures taken on different fronts to safeguard the frontiers and maintain internal order.

He said the meeting reviewed security situation all along International Border (IB), Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) and analysed issues relating to cross border movements and infiltration attempts.

After getting the brief from the officials, Governor directed civil, police and security forces to ensure close and effective coordination for maintaining peace and law and order in the State.

He also directed the security officials to ensure zero collateral damage to the civil population during anti-militancy operations. “The security men should use increased application of technology to further improve their capabilities”.

Expressing his satisfaction over security management in the past year, Vohra complimented the security forces and intelligence agencies for achieving a very high level of convergence on the anti-militancy front.

He observed that joint efforts of the security agencies had resulted in “neutralizing” the inimical elements and enabled a high voter turnout in the recent concluded State Assembly elections, which were altogether free, fair and transparently conducted.

The Governor suggested that meetings of the Unified Combined Headquarters should be held at least on quarterly basis. “The issues of a complex nature may be deliberated upon by establishing one or more sub-groups from among the membership of the Unified Combined Headquarters”.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com