SRINAGAR: Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said situation in Kashmir is improving because people want people.
He also assured of providing light Bullet Proof (BP) jackets and bullet proof vehicles to paramilitary CRPF deployed in the Valley.
“Kashmiris are good human beings. Kashmir is much beyond violence, which is normally being portrayed outside world. The real beauty of Kashmir must come out,” Rijiju told reporters on sidelines of Adnan Sami’s musical concert on the banks of Dal Lake at SKICC, here today.
Adnan Sami, a musician, composer and singer, was recently granted Indian citizenship. Large number of people attended the musical concert.
Rijiju said Adnan Sami’s musical concert is a joint effort of Jammu and Kashmir government and Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
“We want that Kashmir should be seen as it is,” the MoS Home said.
“I visited Pahalgam and people there want peace. It is shame people don’t see and enjoy the natural beauty of Kashmir,” he said.
The Mos Home today held security review meetings with CRPF, BSF, army and police officials to review the overall security scenario of the State, especially in the Valley.
“In the security review meeting, we discussed how to take care of local people, how to control the situation and how not to let the situation go out of hand,” Rijiju said.
Referring to situation in Kashmir, the minister said the situation is improving because people in Jammu and Kashmir want peace.
“When general public desire for peace, there would be peace,” he said.
During the security review meeting in south Kashmir, the CRPF officials raised the issues being faced by the force while performing counter insurgency and law and order duties in Valley, sources said.
They said the MoS Home assured the officials that their demands for light bullet proof jackets and bullet proof vehicles are being looked into.
“The minister said the MHA has set the process for procuring the light BP jackets and BP vehicles at the earliest. We will fast track these procurements,” said sources privy to the security review meeting.
The minister also urged the men officers of security forces to continue the good work and bridge the gap with civilians created by unrest of 2016 by undertaking meaningful civic action programmes.
Rijiju also addressed a Sainik Sammelan of CRPF jawans and officials and lauded the efforts of paramilitary forces in conducting successful anti-militancy operations in the valley in perfect coordination with J&K Police and army.
Earlier, the MoS Home after his arrival on two-day visit to the state, visited BSF headquarters, here to interact with BSF officials to review the security situation at the frontiers and within the hinterland.
“He was briefed about the prevailing situation in Kashmir and also apprised about the October 3 suicide attack of militants on BSF camp near heavily guarded Srinagar airport,” a BSF spokesman said.
Three Jaish-e-Mohammad militants and a BSF officer were killed and three border guards injured in the militant attack.
The BSF spokesman said Rijiju applauded the professionalism of BSF men for repulsing the fidayeen attack without causing any collateral damage and minimal damage to the force.
He said the minister also commended the BSF men for effectively defending borders of India against Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Sources said during the review meetings, MoS Home directed the security officials to review the security of camps and installations.
“He directed the officials to take every measure to prevent militants from breaching the security of camps and launching fidayeen attacks. He also told officials to continue operations against the militants and don’t release the pressure,” they said.