JAMMU: Primarily, there were three takeaways from the security review meeting that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’ chaired on Sunday in Jammu, which highlight that how serious effort is underway to counter terrorism, the bane of Jammu and Kashmir for the past nearly 35 years.
The whole context of the security review meeting, which is shorthand for assessing and analyzing the whole of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as the security is the prime issue in determining the pedestal where this Union Territory sits at the moment.
Manoj Sinha , as LG assigned with the task of maintaining security and peace in Jammu and Kashmir by virtue of the powers defined in the J&K Reorganization Act , had to look at the security scenario of the UT as of today . It means that he had to review what all has happened in the past few years and how to move forward in consolidating the gains made so far , and also to take steps to make it perfect so that J&K could have what it has been aspiring for long.
Manoj Sinha, of course, is holding a constitutional position but as an individual he also has become a big stakeholder in J&K; so for him attaining peace in the region is very crucial . He has a constitutional responsibility coupled with the accountability thrust upon him since he took over. Even after an elected government is in place, how constitutional obligations make it incumbent upon him to deliver on certain matters, most importantly in securing peace that is foundational for all the progress that J&K is looking forward to.
First takeaway from his meeting on Sunday was his extraordinary thrust on elimination of terrorism from the soil of J&K . There is no scope to see it as terrorism in Jammu region or the terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, the face of terrorism has been sketched by one hand – that is Pakistan and its spy agencies which have been seeking to bleed India vis Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 .The elimination of terrorism, as underlined by the LG, is not only about targeting terrorists and neutralizing them but also the ecosystem in which they operate. The strike has to be conducted at their roots. There is an urgent need to do a thorough analysis and case study of the acts of terror to tackle terrorism
The primary task of eliminating terrorism rests with the security forces, as they are trained for dealing with the terrorists equipped with bombs, grenades and guns. Recent recoveries and seizures have made it known that the current crop of terrorists, mostly foreigners, are highly trained in using hi-tech arms and ammunition. That was evident the way they struck at the soldiers and para-commandos of the army in jungles and mountainous terrain. So, only security forces can deal with this new and emerging dangerous trend.
Second takeaway is about the development. No development is possible in a destabilized situation, particularly if there exists a threat to life and property. This will hurdle everything, and the developmental works are the first casualty. The development is an antidote to fear that terrorists want to inject and deepen in the lives of the people. That part is to be taken care of by the stakeholders within J&K and the investors coming out of the UT. Development and peace are born friends .Development instils confidence, while terrorism injects fear. The distinction needs to be made. The people love development and this love should be encouraged.
Third is out reach by officers. The LG asked officers- civilians and police – to make an outreach to the people. Deputy Commissioners and SSPs are the best people in the bureaucracy who have maximum of interaction with the people. They are stopping point for all the people and have the resources and capacity to address the people’s grievances. They can build bridges that others cannot.
It all comes to the point that LG has read the pulse of the people, geography they inhabit and all what they want to happen in Jammu and Kashmir, a strategically sensitive place in the country.