Home Minister’s J&K Visit: DGP Chairs High-Level Security Meet

Srinagar- Five days ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Monday asked officers to keep an eye on activities of suspicious elements, besides stressing for utilization of technology & security gadgets including CCTV cameras during the VVIP visit.

The police chief passed these directions while chairing a meeting at the District Police Office, Baramulla, to review the security arrangements ahead of the Union Home Minister’s visit to the Union Territory, a police spokesperson said Monday. Singh was accompanied by ADGP Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar.

Shah will be on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from September 30 where he is planned to pay obeisance to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, address two rallies and review developmental activities.

During the meeting, the spokesperson said, security arrangements for the Union Home Minister’s visit, including the routes and locations were discussed in threadbare.

In the meeting attended among others by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K. Pole, DIG North Kashmir Udaybhaskar Billa, SSP Baramulla Rayees Mohammad Bhat, ASP Baramulla R K Parihar and jurisdictional SDPOs, the spokesperson said that deployment of man-power from different forces and intelligence agencies was also discussed.

Addressing the officers, he said, the DGP stressed for greater synergy among different agencies and forces, being deployed for the security of VVIP.

“The DGP emphasized upon the officers to keep an eye on the activities of suspicious elements who always try to find an opportunity to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the UT,” the spokesperson said.

The DGP, he said, directed the officers that proper briefings should be made to the personnel put on security duties at different locations of venues.

“The DGP stressed for utilization of technology & security gadgets including CCTV cameras en-route the visit and locations. He said that a comprehensive communication network must be ensured to be established to coordinate among the agencies involved in the security arrangements,” he added.

Singh, the spokesperson said, discussed traffic arrangements and asked for diversion of public transport to alternate routes so that common commuters do not suffer due to security reasons.

He said that DIG North Kashmir and SSP Baramulla briefed the DGP about the required security arrangements put in place in connection with the VVIP visit.

“They apprised him about the security measures being taken in their respective jurisdictional areas,” he added.

Police Assures Privacy In Aerial Surveillance

Police on Monday meanwhile made it clear that its aerial surveillance teams are keeping “vigilant watch” in “public areas” only so as to ensure privacy.

The police also rejected criticism over circulating pictures of a group of students by it, claiming that the law enforcing agency was aware about its “responsibility” and that they were not “identifiable” as their faces were hidden.

“Our Aerial Surveillance teams are keeping a vigilant watch looking for criminals, absconders etc. using high resolution cameras. This clip (showing in tweet) is from a public space in downtown,” police said in a tweet. “The surveillance is in public areas only, so as to ensure privacy.”

Regarding the circulating of a picture in which a group of students is seen roaming on streets of Qamarwari during school hours, police sought to defend two concerns raised by few netizens.

“Moral Policing: Most criminals are drug addicts, most drug addicts start in the school bunking phase,” the police said in a separate tweet.

Regarding concerns over identity, police claimed that “no student is identifiable as they have hid their faces, names nowhere. We are well aware of our responsibilities.”

Earlier Police said that these students were found roaming on streets in Qamarwari area during school timings. “Parents are requested to keep watch on school going children. Further, school authorities may also inform parents in case any student is found absent without leave or prior intimation” Many students have been noticed roaming in parks, roads in school timings recently