Prepared to handle any situation in JK: DGP on al-Qaeda threat

Jammu, Jun 21: Asserting that security forces in

are alert to threats of al-Qaeda, Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajindra Kumar said here today that the state police along with central forces are prepared to handle any situation and thwart nefarious designs of militants.

"We are alert to threats and prepared to handle any sort of emergency situation effectively," Kumar said in reply to a query on threats issued by al-Qaeda on Jammu and Kashmir.

"I can assure all of you and people of the state of J-K, the police along with Central Forces is prepared to handle any sort of situation and thwart all such nefarious designs," the DGP told reporters. Top militants of al-Qaeda's central command had purportedly released a video calling on Muslims of Kashmir to "join jihad".

It is perhaps the first time that Kashmir has been specifically targeted. "The level of infiltration compared to last year has come down. This year around 10 militants managed to infiltrate. We have got a sound and effective anti-infiltration mechanism on the border. We have got a very sound intelligence system," the DGP said.

When asked about how much seriousness police attaches to such threats in the wake of attacks in Pakistan and Iraq, he said "well in this situation, we would not like to comment. But I can assure you we are prepared to handle any sort of situation." Defence Minister Arun Jaitley had said on June 15 in Srinagar that Indian forces are capable of handling any threat of al-Qaeda in Jammu and Kashmir.

PTI