Srinagar, September 9: ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar led a high-level meeting with officers from the Police, security forces, and other intelligence agencies in the Anantnag district today. The purpose of the meeting was to review the security of the National Highway and the SOPs that security forces are following when moving convoys.
At the meeting were GOC Victor Force, IG Traffic J&K, Army’s Sector Commander 1st, DIG Police SKR, DIG BSF, DIG SSB, DIG CRPF Awantipora, DIG CRPF Anantnag, DIG BSF, DDIB, Additional Commander SB, SSsP of Anantnag and Kulgam districts, SP Awantipora, SP Cargo, and other officers.
Vijay Kumar told all the officers who were taking part to do a joint survey of the NHW and convoy movement in their area of responsibility (AOR) and suggest changes where and if possible to the SOPs to keep the flow of civilian traffic going smoothly during convoy movements. During the meeting, the ADGP Kashmir told the SSsP and CAPFs/Army Officers to find the spots on National Highway where technical involvement is needed to raise the heights of barriers, direct side entries and make U-turns. They were also told to figure out where service lanes are needed and send a joint suggestion for places where underpasses or overpasses are needed to keep traffic moving smoothly on the National Highway.
ADGP Kashmir also told the heads of the districts to find places where more CCTVs can be put up. The chairing officer also told them to use SHOs or SDPOs on NHW when the train moved through dangerous spots. ADGP Kashmir also told the officers that they should try to stop illegal building and help the civil government and national roads authority get rid of illegal buildings on the National Highway.
During the meeting, it was decided that no civilian traffic would be stopped on the National Highway when VVIPs or Senior Officers travelled on the National Highway. This was done as an instant measure, and the meeting also discussed other ways to keep civilian traffic moving smoothly. The officers who were at the meeting were also told to do a joint study and make standard operating procedures (SOPs) to help traffic move smoothly without putting the security of convoys at risk. The new SOPs would be sent up the chain of command to be approved. Also, lateral exits on the National Highway should get extra attention, and more Nafri could be sent there. To keep traffic moving smoothly, the ADGP of Kashmir asked Traffic cops to put more people on important or busy laterals.
All districts’ SsP were also told to come up with specific information, start anti-terrorist operations along the sides of the NHW, and take legal action against OGWs working in these areas.
