PM chairs Unified Command meeting in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 24 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today for the first time chaired a meeting of the Unified Command and discussed the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, his deputy Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Union Home Secretary V K Duggal besides senior officials of the Army, state police, para-military forces and the intelligence agencies.

Well-placed sources said the Prime Minister, at the meeting, was briefed about the overall security situation besides various measures taken in view of the escalation of violence in the Valley during the past few days.

They said the fidayeen attack on a Congress rally here on May 21, the series of grenade explosions the next day and yesterday's suicide car bomb attack on the Border Security Force (BSF) also came up for discussions.

The meeting expressed serious concern over the recent spurt in violence in Kashmir, particularly in the summer capital.

The Prime Minister also enquired about the condition of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar and others who were seriously wounded in the suicide attack on the public meeting organised by the state Congress to mark the 15th death anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at the Sher-i-Kashmir Municipal Park here on Sunday.

They said the meeting also discussed the much-talked about troop reduction in the Kashmir valley.

However, the sources said the members expressed serious reservations over withdrawal of troops from the Valley.

The Prime Minister was also briefed about the measures taken to thwart militant attempts to derail the ongoing peace process, the sources said.

Dr Singh was given a detailed account of the situation along the state's borders with Pakistan following reports that a large number of militants were waiting across the Line of Control (LoC) to cross over to the Indian side, they added.

UNI

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