A high-powered committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry to suggest ways to tighten security grid especially along the India-Pakistan border on Tuesday wound up its three-day-long visit to border areas of Jammu region.
Headed by former Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, the eight-member team analysed all types of gaps in fencing along the International Border in Kathua, Samba and RS Pura sectors and also visited line of Control in Rajouri to study any other form of vulnerability before suggesting remedial measures aimed at strengthening the anti-infiltration grid.
The committee members also visited the tunnel site, river & Nallah gaps, BOPs and re-erection of fence under construction and appreciated the alertness of BSF troops.
Former DGP J&K Police Ashok Prasad who also served as Secretary, Internal Security (MHA), along with senior professors accompanied Madhukar Gupta.
The committee was constituted by the Union Home Ministry after fidayeen groups from Pakistan mounted audacious strikes on vital Army/security installations by breaching the border fencing and infiltrating inside the Indian territory without facing much resistance.
The fidayeen groups responsible for targeting Dinanagar, Pathankot Air base, Samba and Kathua Army camps between 2014-2016 had adopted similar modus operandi to infiltrate inside the Indian territory before hitting their high value targets.
According to BSF spokesman in Jammu, the eight member team headed by Madhukar Gupta visited the border areas of Jammu between 5,6 June and visited Srinagar to attend brief meeting with the Governor". The spokesman said the aim of the visit was to study and analyse the existing Border Security and Management mechanism undertaken vis-à-vis the likely threats existing on International Borders with special reference to Indo-Pak border.
The delegation was briefed in detail by D K Upadhyaya IG BSF Frontier Jammu regarding the prevailing security scenario on the Jammu IB and the border management system vis-à-vis measures undertaken by BSF to ensure full proof security of International Border.
During the Border visit the delegation also interacted with senior Civil Administrative & authorities as well as the local villagers of Kathua & Samba sector. The high powered committee was formed under the aegis of National Security Council secretariat to suggest ways and means to strengthen the existing border fencing and plug the gaps.
The committee members had conducted similar study in Rajasthan in May. After visiting border areas of Jammu, the committee members were scheduled to visit Punjab. The committee is expected to submit its report to the Union Home Ministry by June end.