Rajnath admits need to strengthen, empower NIA
Tribune News Service,New Delhi, January 19
Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra today said the Pathankot terror strike could have been prevented had lessons been learnt from previous attacks, with focus on securing the International Border with Pakistan, which is not yet “well-guarded”.He was delivering the keynote address on “National Security Management: Some Concerns” at a function to mark the 7th Raising Day of the National Investigation Agency, where Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was the chief guest. Vohra said the Border Security Force, with its limited capacities, could not effectively guard the International Border (in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab), a long stretch of 200-250 km.The Governor said the attack on the Dinanagar police station could have been avoided had the five-six terror attacks that took place after September 2013 through the International Border via Kathua been followed up as closely as the Pathankot attack by the NIA.He said this while responding to a question on the reluctance of the Punjab Government in handing over the Dinanagar police station attack probe to the NIA.Vohra suggested that a separate ministry should be carved out from the Home Ministry to deal with incidents concerning the national security and a separate cadre of officials trained in handling such situations be raised to man the proposed ministry.He asserted that standard operating procedures be followed strictly and duties of police, paramilitary, specialised forces and Army be well-defined to avoid waste of time in gathering evidence for prosecution.Meanwhile, admitting the need for further “strengthening and empowering” the NIA , Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government was committed to providing all help to the anti-terror probe agency.He said more NIA offices were being set up across the country and would be equipped with hi-tech gadgetry. “India stands at the forefront of the global efforts to combat terrorism and is a signatory to all international treaties on anti-terrorism. Despite several onslaughts upon us, our integrity and sovereignty has remained intact,” said Singh.
‘Proper Dinanagar probe would have helped’
- “If Dinanagar would have been properly investigated, Pathankot (attack), I am sure, would have been almost impossible because we would have known the routes taken by the terror groups to infiltrate the International Border (IB). I also hold very strongly that IB is not well-guarded” — NN Vohra, J-K Governo
Salwinder undergoes lie-detector test
Tribune News Service,New Delhi, January 19
Senior Punjab Police officer Salwinder Singh today underwent a polygraph test in connection with National Investigation Agency’s investigation into the attack on Pathankot air base.The test was conducted on the officer after five days of questioning by sleuths of the national anti-terror probe agency. Sources in the NIA said a team of experts from the Central Forensic and Scientific Laboratory conducted the test. The questionnaire was prepared by NIA sleuths in consultation with experts, they said. The questioning would continue on Wednesday. Singh, currently posted as Assistant Commandant of 75th Punjab Armed Police after being shunted out as Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Gurdaspur, had agreed to a polygraph test after the NIA informed a designated court about alleged “inconsistencies” in his statements before the agency and Punjab Police.
BSF awaits Union Home Ministry’s response to demand for more men
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria,Tribune News Service,Jammu, January 19
The BSF today said it was awaiting the response of the Ministry of Home Affairs to the proposal seeking additional border guards for the second line of defence along the 198-km-long international border in the Jammu region.Talking exclusively to The Tribune, Inspector General (IG), BSF, Jammu Frontier, RK Sharma said: “Last year, we submitted a proposal projecting requirement of additional BSF personnel for the second line of defence on the international border in Jammu. Now, we await the MHA’s response and it will be their call to decide how many men have to be deployed.”Assessment is an ongoing process but of course they will be deployed as the second line of defence, he added.The BSF has the operational responsibility of the international border.“On Sunday, senior officers of the rank of DIGs toured border areas and held conferences with the field commanders, telling them to maintain a high level of alert,” said Sharma.The BSF currently has nine battalions on the international border (one battalion officially has 1,200 men) while 256-km-long Line of Control, south of the Pir Panjal range, has 40 to 42 battalions.The second line of defence will come up around 500 m within the Indian territory from the Zero Line.During winter, Pakistani terrorists shift their focus from the rugged LoC to the international border, largely a plain area, to sneak into the state for carrying out terror attacks.An official source said Pakistani militants usually adopted traditional routes on the international border existing in the form of over 13 rivers and rivulets that flow into Pakistan.Chhap Nullah, Bhag Nullah, Tarnah Nullah, Bain Nullah, Aik Nullah, Devak Nullah, Basanter river, Tawi river, Chenab river, Ravi river and Ujh Nullah flow into Pakistan and are being guarded by the BSF, added the source.In the wake of a spurt in terror attacks, all 15 BSF commandants have been asked to remain alert.