Prepare first phase plan for substitution of CRPF by J&K Police within 10 days: Omar

Unified Headquarters meeting

Police should be accompanied by magistrates in law and order dealing

Chairing the Unified Command meeting here this afternoon, Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah said that the deployment plan of the Police and Paramilitary forces has to be re-worked as per the present situation which he asserted is a law and order situation and not a militancy situation as was in the 1990s. He said that in the changed scenario, the Police is supposed to be better equipped and trained to deal with law and order situation and as such a change in mindset of the force is also required. The Chief Minister asked the Director General of Police, J&K, DG, CRPF and other concerned to formulate an effective plan in this regard within 10 days.

Mr. Abdullah also directed for placement of magistrates in every district, adding that for dealing with law and order situation, police should accompany the magistrate. No law and order situation or protests should be dealt without the presence of a magistrate, he emphasized.

The Chief Minister also called for formulation of Citizens Advisory Committees in every district and directed the Deputy Commissioners to flag this issue for immediate implementation. This, he said, would help to develop constant rapport between the citizens and the administration and avoid misunderstandings that usually occur between administration and the public on sensitive issues relating to maintenance of law and order.

The Unified Command meeting was attended by Lt. Gen Bikram Singh, GOC XV Corps, Mr. S. S. Kapur, Chief Secretary, J&K, Mr. Samuel Verghese, Financial Commissioner, Home, Mr. Kuldeep Khoda, Director General of Police, J&K, Dr. Ashok Bhan, DG, CID, J&K, Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. Karam Vir Singh, ADGP, CRPF, IG BSF, Mr. S. K. Sinha, Joint Director, IB, Kashmir, Mr. Masaud Samoon, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. B. Srinivas, IGP, Kashmir, Sheikh Ovais, IG Armed, Kashmir and IG, HQs.