Jammu-Kashmir: BJP's Sunil Sharma flags security lapses after killing of two SPOs in Kishtwar

Inspector General of Police Jammu Tejinder Singh on Saturday visited the families of the two slain Special Police Officers SPOs in the remote Dechhan area of Kishtwar district where senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma raised concerns with him over alleged security and operational lapsesSharma who is the Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly questioned the circumstances under which the two SPOs were sent across difficult mountainous terrain to assist Army personnel alleging that the decision exposed them to unnecessary risks and ultimately resulted in their killingSPOs Babi Chand 57 and Rashpal Kumar 45 both residents of Kiyar village were found dead in the Dachhan forest early Thursday following a suspected terror attack a day after they went missing from the remote forest area The incident took place at an altitude of around 8858 feet between Deharna and Kiyar villages when the two SPOs were on their way to a security post at Basnand in adjoining Marwah tehsilTheir service weapons an INSAS rifle and a 303 rifle along with magazines and ammunition were missing and are suspected to have been taken away by the attackers Empty cartridges of Pakistaniorigin armourpiercing steelcore ammunition were also recovered from the scene adding to the security concerns surrounding the incidentThe Jammu Police chief accompanied by a team of senior officers visited Kiyar village to offer condolences to the families of the slain SPOs and review the ongoing antiterror operation in the areaIn the past eight residents of Kiyar were killed in a terrorist attack on the village in August 2000 followed by the killing of two more locals after their abduction in 2004Pointing to a hill separating Kiyar and Deharna villages the BJP leader questioned the operational strategy asking why the two men were required to cross the difficult terrain to reach the Armys Temporary Operating Base TOB when the Army was capable of conducting its own operationsHe also questioned the decision to provide the SPOs with 303 and INSAS rifles before sending them into the operational areaWhat kind of operational strategy is this Sharma said before the IG expressing concern over what he described as negligence and poor planningHe further questioned why personnel from nearby police pickets were not utilised instead of sending the two SPOs across the hillRecalling earlier security arrangements Sharma said around 40 security personnel were deployed in the area following previous incidents He also referred to security arrangements made for the protection of minority communities following the 2000 massacre during visits by the then Defence Minister and Union Home MinisterSharma expressed concern over the security response following the killings claiming that despite the seriousness of the incident security personnel did not reach the affected area until the following morningHe also sought clarification on the arrangements made to retrieve and bring back the bodies of the SPOs The two SPOs were brave individuals who had sacrificed their lives for the nation Sharma said adding that their families and the village deserved adequate security and recognition of their sacrificeHe alleged that repeated incidents had created a sense of insecurity among residents and claimed that attempts were being made to create fear within a particular community in the last village of KishtwarThe BJP leader urged the police administration to immediately reestablish a permanent police picket in Dechhan and redeploy the 40 personnel who had earlier been stationed in the areaReferring to MLA Shagun Parihars remarks about local youth willing to defend their homeland he suggested recruiting eligible candidates from the village to strengthen the police presence in the areaSharma alleged that former Over Ground Workers OGWs of terrorists were being appointed as SPOsHe questioned the alleged association between an officer and OGW networks and demanded a thorough examination of the matter along with strict action if the allegations were establishedSharma said there was widespread resentment over the officers functioning and cautioned that any negligence in a sensitive area could aggravate tensions among communitiesHe also questioned the progress of counterterror operations claiming that four terrorists were still active in the area despite several casualties among security personnel and residentsApart from security arrangements Sharma raised the issue of the absence of adequate communication facilities in the area He sought the installation of a VHF communication tower to improve communication and coordination among security personnelSharma also demanded that the village receive tangible benefits including a motorable roadHe said improved security arrangements accountability and infrastructure development were essential to ensuring the safety of residents and restoring public confidence in the regionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday 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