JAMMU: Two additional battalions of Jammu and Kashmir police and two companies of ex-servicemen would be raised as a measure to strengthen the police force in the state and take control of security situation. This was decided at a high level meeting chaired by the Governor General K.V. Krishna Rao (retd). The governor reviewed the general law and order situation in the state with special references to the Kashmir valley. The proposal for modernization of police force and strengthening of district level police set-up will be taken in hand for implementation in a f manner. It was also Telt that theople’s involvement was necessary, particularly in the border arcas, to check acts of sabotage and subversion for protection of vital installations. In this context, it was decided that the village defense committees would be soon constituted.
The meeting was attended by advisor to the governor, Lt. gen. (retd) M.A. Zaki, chief secretary, Ashok Kumar, additional chief secretary (home), Mehmood Rehman and Director General of Police, M.N. Sabharwal.
Kashmiri leaders resent politicians’ stand: The leaders of Kashmiri mi- grants have resented the statements of political and social organizations op- posing the adjustment of migrant employees in Jammu region. Taking strong exception to opposition from some quarters over adjustment of Kashmiri pandit employees against various categories of posts in Jammu region, some leaders of mi- grant community have even threatened to start direct dialogue with Kashmiri militants for finding solutions to their sufferings and also boycott of the proposed elections in the state. The controversy arose over the adjustment of doctor and some other migrant employees against posts in Jammu region. Several leaders of political parties, including the Janata Dal, the BJP and the National Conference of Jammu had issued a statement after a joint meeting on the initiative of Doctors Association in Jammu and opposed such adjustments, Raj Bhargotra, who also claims to be the 7
president of a state Janata Deflection. had also joined the other leaders over the issue and opposed the move. The general secretary of state of Janata Dal owing allegiance to Bhargotra faction, Pyare Lal Koul, in a statement has severely criticized his party president for his approach over the issue and said that Janata Dal was not a regional party of Jammu only and the statement of Bhargotra relegated him to the position of Jammu region Janata Dal.
He said that such an issue was never discussed in the executive committee and as such, their personal views of the Janata Dal leader. Koul has said that these statements could not be viewed lightly and it would ultimately harm the national interests for the protection of which the Kashmiri pandits had been displaced.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 17, 1995
