The Centre on Sunday said there are no restrictions on movement of any individual, including the members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said in Lok Sabha that based on inputs received from the law enforcement agencies in view of the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the movement of some individuals, who are under security protection, got restricted to ensure their safety and security after the abrogation of Article 370 a year ago. “At present, there are no restrictions on movement but for the security advisories to maintain the law and order situation and no person is under House arrest in Jammu and Kashmir for reasons not related to public health guidelines,” he said in written response to a question. Reddy said there are no restrictions on movement of any individual, including the protectees of the Peoples Democratic Party. “Considering the law and order and security situation of a particular area, it is imperative that prior intimation is given by the protected persons regarding their movements etc.,” he said.
Asserting that the terror infrastructure in Pakistan is intact, a top Border Security Force (BSF) officer on Sunday said airdropping of weapons by drones in Jammu and Kashmir is a new challenge along with various anti-India elements coming together. Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF), Jammu frontier, N S Jamwal said all security agencies are alive to the new security challenges and are maintaining tight vigil to scuttle the nefarious designs of the enemy forces.
He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a major recovery of 62 kg of heroin worth crores of rupees along with two pistols, three magazines and 100 rounds along the International Border (IB) in Arnia area of R S Pura sector here. The terror infrastructure (in Pakistan) is intact as is evident from the increased activities like attempts to smuggle weapons and narcotics and firing incidents on the borders, the officer said.
He said the the new threat has emerged with the use of drones to airdrop weapons. “We are alert and the work for counter-measures to deal with it is in progress, Jamwal said, adding such type of activity was first reported in Punjab and subsequently extended to Jammu and Kashmir. He said the forces are alert to the threat and have successfully foiled two such attempts in the past few months.
The work on the counter-measures is in progress and we are utilising technology to deal with the threat. On June 20, the Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a Hexa copterdronewith a payload of five-and-a-half kilograms including a sophisticated US-made M4 semi-automatic carbine and seven grenades at Rathua village in Kathua district. Three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were arrested along with a cache of weapons airdropped near the LoC in Rajouri district last week. Jamwal said forces have already been sensitised about the challenge, resulting in successful operations after airdropping of the weapons.
Asked about reports that various terrorist organisations are joining hands while Khalistani handlers are supervising the smuggling of drugs into India with the help of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, he said all anti-India elements are coming together wherever they get an opportunity. Security agencies are aware of this fact and appropriate measures are being adopted to meet the challenge, he said.
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