STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday said that it will facilitate and help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders irrespective of their ideological views and predilections.
“The coalition government will facilitate and help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders irrespective of their ideological views and predilections.
“The commitment was made with an aim of building a broad based consensus on the resolution of all outstanding issues of J&K,” Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said in a written reply to a question from Congress member Usman Majid in Legislative Assembly.
The chief minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that the coalition government will continue with its efforts of taking confidence building measures.In his question, Majid had asked whether it was a fact that in Agenda of Alliance it had promised to initiate dialogue process with separatists and Pakistan, if so what is the present status of the commitment.
In the reply the chief minister said, “The Agenda of Alliance between J&K PDP and BJP, which lays down a guiding framework for the governance, provides that the coalition government will seek to support and strengthen the approach and initiatives taken by the government of India to create a reconciliatory environment and build stakes for all in the peace and development within the sub-continent.”
She said that the steps taken so far including taking confidence building measures such as enhancing people-to-people contact on both sides of the Line of Control, encouraging civil society exchanges, taking travel, commerce, trade and business across the LoC to the next level and opening new routes across all three regions to enhance connectivity.
Last year saw 216 militancy-related incidents in which 150 militants were killed and 81 security personnel lost their lives, Chief Minister said.
Till December 21, 216 militancy-related incidents were recorded. 143 such incidents were reported in 2015 and 151 in 2014, the chief minister said in a written reply in the state Assembly.
Mufti, who also holds the home portfolio, said till December 19, 81 personnel of Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB and police laid down their lives for the nation and 150 militants were killed in that period.
As many as 2,690 cases have been registered in connection with stone pelting incidents in Kashmir and 16 have been lodged for snatching of weapons till the end of last year.
463 people were also detained under Public Safety Act out of whom 145 were released, with 318 still under detention as on December 29, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said in a written reply to MLA Engineer Abdul Rasheed in the state Assembly.
The cases are under investigation, she said, adding that 76 people, besides 2 policemen, lost their lives during the unrest in Valley.
The killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani triggered violent protests and law and order disturbances in various parts of Kashmir valley.
‘Attackers of Uri, Nagrota not identified yet’
JAMMU: The terrorists, who attacked Uri and Nagrota army formations and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir have not been identified as yet, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti told the state Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a question by BJP MLA Satpal Sharma in the Lower House, Mehbooba said in written reply, as per reports, the ultras have not been identified so far.
The Chief Minister said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken up the investigation of two attacks.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating Uri and Nagrota terror attack incidents. Cases FIR No 71/2016 and Fir No 221/2016 stand registered at police station Uri and Police station Nagrota respectively.
“Further case FIR No 149/2016 in respect of Poonch terror attack stands registered in Police Station Poonch and the matter is under investigation, she said.
On September 18 last year, four terrorists attacked an army camp in Uri town of Baramulla district, killing 17 soldiers.
On November 29, seven army men including two Majors lost their lives when three militants attacked an army installation in the Nagorta town on the outskirts of Jammu city.
On September 12 last, three militants were gunned down and a policeman lost his life when militants attacked two different places in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
To a question regarding the measures taken to check the recurrence of such incidents in the state, Mehbooba said several steps have been taken in this regard.
“In view of the continued threat of insurgency sponsored from across the border, a number of measures have already been put in place in the state to combat terrorist violence and improve the security situation, she said.
She said the measures include, maintaining greater synergy amongst various security and intelligence agencies, strengthening of counter insurgency grid, inceased alertness by second and third tier deployment along the Line of Control and the International Border.
Sharing of intelligence between Intelligence Agencies on real time basis, holding review meetings at various levels, maintaining sustained pressure on terrorists, carrying out a regular patrolling, area domination and searches by the district police with the assistance of security forces, keeping a close watch on the activities of anti social elements, strengthening of security of vital installations etc, she said.
Mehbooba said that in addition, the security forces, police have been briefed to enhance the level of alertness and maintain close vigil to check the recurrence of such incidents. The counter infiltration Grid has been strengthened further.
Asked for the steps taken to revoke AFSPA in J&K as per the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme, the Chief Minister said, The need and desirabilty of revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in various areas of the state requires critical review of the security situation and other relevant factors.” PTI
