KINS
Srinagar, Apr 19: Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken a strong note of the killing of three CRPF men at Sopore in north Kashmir on Saturday and has directed the security agencies including paramilitary CRPF to maintain highest vigil and not to lower guard while fighting the COVID-19 or enforcing lockdown.
The MHA has asked troops in Kashmir to keep a close watch on suspects in markets and other busy places to foil all attempts by militants to target security forces.
A senior MHA official told a local news agency KINS, that the ministry has paid rich tributes to the slain CRPF men, who were out on roads for the safety of people at a time when COVID-19 is holding a tight grip across globe and killing people at regular intervals. “We paid rich tributes to all the CRPF martyrs who laid their lives at Sopore when they were performing their duties,” he said.
The official said that strict directions have been passed to the all security agencies in J&K which include “not to lower guard, maintain highest vigil while on duty and to ensure militants are strictly dealt with so that they don’t dear to attack security forces”.
“We have asked the security forces including paramilitary CRPF men to maintain extra alertness while performing duties with regard to Covid-19 in Kashmir,” the official said, adding that the forces have been asked to go after the militants wherever there is information about presence of militants.
“There should be no leniency for militants. Despite the fact that Covid-19 has thrown up a major challenge, we have directed security forces not to suspend anti-militancy operations and eliminate militants whenever there is an input,” the official maintained.
Another official in the MHA revealed that the advisory sent to the security agencies entails that a close watch should be maintained in markets, busy places and outside religious places in Kashmir so that “militants who are coming to attack are neutralized before they target forces”.
