SRINAGAR: The recent militant attack on BSF camp near heavily guarded Srinagar airport has necessitated security review of the security camps and installations in strife-torn Kashmir with security officials deciding not to abandon the ‘vulnerable’ camps in the Valley but to strengthen infrastructure and security of these places.
A core group meeting of top security officials was held in Srinagar few days back to discuss the October 3 fidayeen attack on BSF camp near Srinagar airport in which three attackers and a BSF official were killed and three border guards injured, a top security official said.
He said the meeting reviewed the security of camps and major installations in the Valley.
“The officials decided to conduct fresh security audit of all strategic locations in Kashmir including the camps of Army, Police, CRPF and BSF and major government installations,” the official said.
Union MoS Home Kiren Rijiju, who arrived here yesterday on two-day visit, also conducted the security review meetings and directed the officials to take every possible measure to prevent militants from breaching the security of camps and other installations.
According to security officials 6-7 fidayeen of Jaish-e-Mohammad are on run and planning suicide attacks on security force installations.
They said a group of 12-13 Jaish militants had infiltrated into J&K in July this year and six of the militants have already been killed in two suicide attack on security force camps in Valley – one in August and another on October 3.
The security agencies have categorized the camps as sensitive, hypersensitive, etc as per the threat perception.
A top CRPF official said it has been found that some security camps are not in good place and good locations.
“The camps are vulnerable to stone pelting by mobs and militant attacks,” he said.
According to the CRPF officials, there were suggestions that security personnel should leave these camps and move to safer places but during security review meetings it has been decided to hold on to these camps in view of their strategic importance.
These camps, he said, are located at strategic places and abandoning them is not a viable option.
“We will continue to hold these vulnerable camps and won’t be relocating our men from there. We will improve upon infrastructure including fencing and lighting and perimeter,” the official.
He said they would be replacing the tin and temporary walls of security camps with permanent concrete walls.
According to security officials, the militants involved in fidayeen attack on District Police Lines in Pulwama in August this year had breached the security by passing through tin walls.
Similarly, in October 3 fidayeen attack on BSF camp near Srinagar airport, it has been found that perimeter security was inadequate,” they said.
“The permanent concrete walls would be set up around the camps to prevent militants from breaching the security and launching suicide attacks,” the CRPF official said.
“They have been cutting fencing wire but would find it difficult to cross the high concrete walls,” he said adding this would act as a deterrent against possible fidayeen attacks.