The spate of civilian killings in Sopore compelled the authorities to review security situation across Jammu & Kashmir at a meeting on Wednesday. Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed emphasised on the entire security grid to ensure safety of common citizens and underlined need for required measures to avoid recurrence of Sopore-like incidents.
Gunmen shot six people in Sopore area during past one month creating a reign of terror in north Kashmir. Police have claimed that the killings were handiwork of a splinter group of Hizbul Mujahideen that is now going under the front name of lashkar-e-Islam.
Sayeed convened the meeting of Unified Command Headquarters (UCH), the security grid formulated in early 1990s for coordinated counter-insurgency measures in the embattled State. The Chief Minister is the chairman of UCH and top State and provincial level officers of the civilian administration, police, paramilitary forces, Army and intelligence agencies as its members.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh also attended the meeting. This was the first UCH meeting in Srinagar. Earlier, the maiden UCH meeting was held in Jammu on March 12.
A spokesman said the Chief Minister was briefed about overall issues related to security situation in the State. The wide ranging matters and overall security scenario along line of Control and International Border were discussed besides steps being taken by security agencies to maintain peace.
Mufti Sayeed emphasised on the security grid to take required measures to avoid recurrence of Sopore like incidents besides called upon the security agencies to take all measures to maintain peace and tranquillity to help the flood affected people rebuild their lives and infuse greater sense of security among people. He said the priorities of the Government include good governance, transparency and graft-free administration.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Opposition National Conference called upon Governor NN Vohra to raise the issue of the spate of targeted killings of civilians in Sopore. “These killings started only after a wayward, unacceptable remark by the Union Defence Minister that hinted at the re-invention of Ikhwani Rule in J&K”, a spokesman said.