Srinagar: In the back drop of Lethpora Pulwama attack, in which five central Reserve Police personnel and three militants were killed, rhe Ministry of Home affairs (MHA) has advised the security agencies in Kashmir for strengthening of security in vital establishments which are “vulnerable” to militant attacks.
“There are various buildings of security forces, which give militants an advantage to fight battle for longer hours. Security of such buildings must be revived along the highway to ensure militants don’t hole up inside if they carry out any attack in future,” the MHA directives according to sources have said.
Militants stormed a central reserve police force (CRPF) camp in Lethpora area along the Srinagar-Anantnag highway in an audacious pre-dawn strike on Sunday, killing at least five CRPF personnel. Three militants were also killed.
One of the top officials of the police maintained that the security review is an ongoing process but the agencies are reviewing security of vital installations and establishments in Kashmir in view militants taking advantage of multi-storey concrete buildings and carrying out Fidayeen attacks on military camps.
“There are some establishments which are vulnerable to attacks. The security agencies have been directed to carry out their security review to combat any of the attacks,” the police official said wishing not to be named.
Special DGP, CRPF, S N Shrivastava, said that security is being reviewed of all military installation . “Security review is an ongoing process. We are doing it as per the situation and upgrading security accordingly,” he said.
He said that the forces were ready to combat militancy in the valley. “We will take every measure whatever is required to eradicate militancy.”
Further the CCTVs are also being installed in various military buildings of the Valley to ensure militants don’t take advantage which are vulnerable for such attacks.
Earlier, the militants had engaged the armed forces for hours inside a six-storey building of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) Pampore.
The gunfight, one of the longest in the recent history of Kashmir, was possible because of militants strategically taking advantage of the building.
Sources said that the issue was also raised up in a recent meeting where it was directed that “all possible loopholes” be plugged in time. Forces were directed to follow proper SOP so that militants don’t get a change to escape.
Earlier a high level committee of the army has suggested measures to strengthen various military establishments. “The new strategy on part of militants like targeting vital installations may be a move to inflict more casualties on the forces besides damaging the establishments as well. So the committee reviewed the security of vital installations and suggested various measures to the concerned agencies,” an army official said.
(With inputs from KNS)
