NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry has constituted a study group to examine the problems being faced by the border population along the International Boundary (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir amid a surge in ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
The group led by Special Secretary (Internal Security) Rina Mitra will visit the hamlets along the IB and LoC and meet the people living there and get feedback from them. The group will also meet the personnel of the security forces deployed there, district administration officials and local leaders to assess the problems and submit its report within two months, a senior Union Home Ministry official said.
"The competent authority has approved the constitution of a study group for considering various problems being faced by the people residing near IB and LoC in the wake of regular threats of cross-border firing," said Home Ministry order issued on Thursday.
Besides Mitra, the group will include the Principal Secretary (Home Department) of the Jammu and Kashmir government, the divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Joint Secretary (J&K Division) in the Union Home Ministry has been included in the group as Member-Secretary.
After assessing the situation on the ground, the group will compile the report detailing the recommendations on remedial measures to improve the lot of the border population.
The move comes days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced the decision to constitute such a committee during his visit to the State last month.
There has been a significant increase in the number of ceasefire violations along 221 km IB and 740 km of the LoC. As many as 285 ceasefire violations were reported till August 1 this year in contrast to 228 in 2016.