Director General of Police J&K, Dilbagh Singh on Sunday admitted that there are lacunas in every system including the police as well as other security agencies.
In reply to a media query regarding the “lack of coordination” between the security agencies with reference to Jhajjar Kotli attack, the top cop said, “I don’t want to speak something that will hurt others, but If every system was 100 percent perfect, there would have been no militancy in Kashmir today.”
On the investigation in the Jhajjar-Kotli attack, the DGP said, “It was a big nexus of the militants”.
He added: “As the investigation of the case has been handed over to the NIA, I don’t think it is appropriate to disclose any detail at this point of time. But trust me, once the probe will gradually go into the future stages, many interesting details will come to fore and it will help us investigate some other militancy related cases as well.”
Earlier in the day, the police chief visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Hospital, Katra and enquired about the health of the police cops who were injured in the attack. He also rewarded the locals for their “cooperation” during the attack.
On security challenges relating to upcoming panchayat and municipal elections, the DGP said that major challenge before the police was to instil in people a sense of security so that they can cast their vote without any fear.
“And in the last few days, our personnel, by eliminating the militants, have shown that they wouldn’t let anyone vitiate the peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said, “Our prime focus is on providing safe environment to people so that they cast their votes without any fear. As far as security is concerned, we’ve made all necessary arrangements, both in Jammu and Kashmir regions of the State.”
On threats to police families and reports about some cops willing to quit the job, he said, “On the ground, nobody wants to leave the job. Our personnel love their uniform. Threats are not something new in Kashmir.”
On a Doda youth joining militancy and arrest of OGWs from Rajouri, Poonch, the DGP said, “One or two cases hardly means the entire region is under militancy. We’re trying to ensure that those misguided youth who joined militancy return and live a happy life. We’re giving them all possible support.”
To a query about a video making rounds on social media sites purportedly showing people in uniform raising pro-freedom slogans, he said, “They’re forest department employees, and the police is investigating the case. A rebuttal has already been issued.”
On rising menace of drugs in the State, he said, “Through various programs, we’re trying to ensure that our youth are weaned off this menace.”
The police chief also asked media to maintain objectivity in its reporting saying, “Please don’t write the East as the West.”
He however complimented a section a journalists for being very objective and mature in their writing.