RPF official’s letter asks staff to prepare for law and order problem in Kashmir

A letter by a Railway Protection Force official in Budgam asking employees to stock rations and take other steps due to “forecast of deteriorating situation” in Kashmir valley “for a long period” created a flutter, following which the Railways clarified that the communication had no basis and he had no authority to issue it.

A copy of the letter by Sudesh Nugyal, Assistant SecurityCommissioner (ASC), RPF, Budgam, was shared widely on social media, includingby former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who questioned the motive behind such amissive.

   

According to the letter, “As per inputs received fromdifferent security agencies and SSP/GRP/SINA (senior superintendent of policeGovernment Railway Police, Srinagar) regarding forecast of deterioratingsituation in Kashmir valley and issue of law and order for a long period, aprecautionary security meeting was held on July 27.”

Nugyal asked employees to take precautionary measuresincluding stocking up ration for at least four months and shifting theirfamilies out of the Valley.

“At least four-month dry ration should be purchased inadvance to meet any crisis situation. Store drinking water for at least sevendays consumption. Staff should keep their pitthu bag ready with sufficientamount of eatables, drinking water, chocolates, money etc for emergencypurpose,” the letter said.

However, a clarification was issued by a railways boardspokesperson saying the letter was sent without any authority by the next inline to the senior divisional security commissioner, who had proceeded onone-year study leave on July 26. “The next in line issued this letterbased on his own perception which has no basis and is not authorised to issueany such letter.

“It is also clarified that the letter does not have anyapproval from authorising authority. IG (NR) RPF is being sent to Kashmir toassess the situation and take corrective action,” the spokesperson said.

The letter said the vehicles should be fully filled withfuel and kept hidden in a safe place as they may be attacked with the intentionof damage.

“Unnecessary movement of vehicle should be restrictedwith immediate effect,” the official said in the letter.

The staff were directed to not have any negotiations withmob and “mob should not be allowed to come near railway installations ifit happens as insurgents may be in mob”.

The leave of staff should be restricted due to the emergencysituation, the letter read.

“Nobody should keep their family or relative in Kashmirvalley who may have come for Amarnath yatra. They should be sent back to theirnative place for safety reasons by July 28. Administration will not hold anyresponsibility for eventuality,” the letter said.

The official also said all GOs were requested to hold suchmeetings with their senior subordinate staff for safety reasons during thecrisis situation as a precautionary measure.

Reacting to the letter, former Jammu and Kashmir ChiefMinister Omar Abdullah tweeted, “It’s easy to blame valley residents forfear-mongering but what are we to make of such official orders which forecast adeterioration in the law and order environment and even predict disturbanceslasting for an extended period of time? Why is the government silent?”

Meanwhile, Abdullah shared a purported letter from SSPRailway Kashmir to the Budgam official saying that he has not shared any suchinformation with him as stated in the letter “making rounds on socialmedia”.

He has expressed concern over the issue and asked him”to desist from such acts in future”.

The controversy comes amid criticism of the Centre by asection of Kashmiri leaders to send 100 more companies (10,000 personnel) ofCentral Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to the state.

The government had said the troops were being deployed tostrengthen the counter-insurgency grid and law and order duties in the KashmirValley. BJP national vice-president and former MadhyaPradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had on Saturday accused Abdullahand PDP president Mehbooba Mufti of spreading rumours on the deployment, sayingit was a normal process and a routine exercise.

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