Srinagar, Nov 4: In wake of the recent threat to Panchayat representatives issued by the Supreme Commander of the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin, Army on Sunday put the ball in Police court saying, “Police only can provide individual security to Panchs, Sarpanchs.”
 Talking to reporters on the sidelines of friendly cricket match played between the Media 11 and Army at Badami Bagh Cantonment here, the General Officer Commanding of Srinagar based Chinar Corps Lt General Om Prakash said: “To provide individual security to these Panchayat members is somehow impossible. Police only can provide individual security to any Panchayat representative on the basis of threat perception. It is solely Police’s duty,” he said.
 Pertinently, the Hizb Supremo Syed Salahuddin in an interview to a New Delhi based magazine Tehlka had said: “No matter how much the government tries to secure them (Sarpanchs and Panchs), they will still be attacked. That is why we call on them to resign from their posts and not allow themselves to be used to undermine the Kashmir issue.”
 The GOC said that threat was aimed at “disrupting peace” and weakening democratic institutions in the state. “Peace is prevailing here by the efforts of security agencies and active cooperation of the people. We will not allow anybody to disrupt it,” he said and praised different security agencies, including police for maintaining peace in the Valley.
 He said the issue of security to Panchayat representatives was discussed in Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “In the meeting we have decided that collective efforts would be made to ensure the security of these representatives. Those efforts are on,” he said. “Greater sanitization and domination of the areas were started to ensure sense of security among the Panchayat representatives. These efforts will continue in coordination with other security agencies operating in the Valley,” the GOC added.
 Referring to infiltration he said that it had “come down.” “Militants are desperately waiting to sneak into this side before the onset of winter. But we would not allow them to succeed troops are alert on Line of Control (LoC) and international border,” he said.
 Replying to a query about the progress in investigations being carried out to track down the militants responsible for attacking an army convoy near hotel Silver Star on city outskirts last month, he said, “They have been identified and we are hunting for them (militants).Hopefully soon there will be breakthrough,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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