In a major goof-up, ‘classified’ notes of the Jammu & Kashmir Police on internal security situation, counter infiltration grid, and high-level security review meetings have been ‘erroneously’ leaked to the media by police media centre.
What has raised many eyebrows in the police department itself is the complacent approach adopted by the officers, who are responsible for the ‘selective’ leak. To cover up the grave error, the police media centre frantically pressed panic buttons but not before baring all. The phone calls were made to prominent State publications to delete the mails and several others were approached to hush up the matter, but the damage has already been done.
Whether the police department has ordered any internal probe or anyone in particular has been held accountable for the ‘goof-up’ has not been made public either. The very fact that the address list of police media centre is very comprehensive and the crucial information was fed to a long list of people has unnerved many in the police department. According to official sources, “it all happened on December 17, 2013”.
During the day, the top brass of police, including range DIGs and district police chiefs, attended a marathon meeting at Zonal police headquarters and the final session was chaired by DGP Ashok Prasad. After the meeting, the police media centre circulated a Press release around 7.26 pm. Ten minutes later, the police media centre realised its folly and sent another mail requesting mediapersons to delete the previous mail. The fresh mail was later sent to mediapersons at 8.34 pm after deleting the crucial document.
A cursory look at the comprehensive document provides almost all the details of working of the police department in Jammu & Kashmir and how best it is preparing itself to counter the challenges ahead. The sensitive dispatch contains crucial information which is not made public even while responding to RTI applications.
The internal notes if made public may also embarrass the State Government as it contains contradictory details of twin terror strikes by a group of three suicide attackers on September 26, 2013 on Hiranagar police station and Army camp in Samba and events preceding communal violence in Kishtwar. The crucial document also provides exclusive details of difficulties being faced while installing CCTVs across sensitive locations in different district headquarters.
Details of ‘security bandobast’ for the smooth conduct of Narendra Modi’s ‘lalkaar’ rally in Jammu were also available besides internal communications. The document also contained draft details of security measures across hyper sensitive, sensitive religious places in Jammu zone, contingency plans to handle communal violence, and feasibility of extending security cover to sarpanches and panches.
Regular diktats issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on curtailing paramilitary forces also figure prominently in the leaked report. Detailed SOPs on different situations such as fidayeen attacks, bomb blasts, and communal tension also figure prominently in the document shared by the police department.
Interestingly, graphic details of security review meetings held at 16 corps headquarters in Nagrota and minutes of Unified Command meeting were also leaked by the police media centre. Since then, the entire police establishment has been tight-lipped and seems to have washed its hands of the goof-up by requesting mediapersons to delete the mail from their inboxes.
“Over the last two months, there has been an increase in conversation between A-3 (control station across), 88(JEM Commander across, 16(launching Commander) and other call signs operating on the Indian side of Border including those operating in Hinterland. These conversations reveal that there are desperate attempts to infiltrate more and more groups to this side of Border from Rajouri-Poonch Sector. Inputs revealed from various agencies also indicate that large numbers of groups are waiting across the border at various launching pads for sneaking into Indian Territory at opportune time.
“Deputy Director IB gave a detailed briefing on the law and order and security scenario of Jammu region besides details of increased cease fire violations on border. The following are some other specific issues highlighted by the DDIB:-
Separatist elements are active in Kishtwar and the Sinthan-Chatroo road is open and therefore their movement from that side needs to be watched. The activities of separatist elements need to be kept under strict surveillance so that their adverse activities are taken note and necessary legal action is taken against them.
“Continuation to this office No. 113654-75 dated 12.10.2013 regarding precautions to be made during Dushera Festival, you are further informed that militant Tanzeems are reported to have been asked by their mentors from across the Border to carry out some spectacular attacks in Samba and Jammu region as a revenge attack in view of heavy casualties suffered by Pak Army in lOC firing yesterday”.