Terror strikes again

12/02/2018

The terror strike on an Army camp in Sunjwan by a group of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists came 15 months after a similar attack in Nagrota on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, in which seven Army personnel including two officers and three fidayeens were killed. In the Nagrota strike on November 29, 2016, a suicide squad targeted the Army base killing seven personnel including two officers. Three terrorists were also killed. The Jammu region has witnessed several major terror strikes in the past. KendriyaVidyalayaSunjuwan, which was located inside the Military Station might have also been one of the targets of Jaish-e-Mohammed fidayeens, apart from the Army installations as the militants attacked unarmed family members of the Army soldiers after intruding inside the Station. The KendriyaVidyalayaSunjuwan has hundreds of students and staff members. Quarters of some of the staff members are also inside the Military Station. However, the school was closed today in view of second Saturday holiday. A major catastrophe has been averted with timely neutralization of terrorists as there were number of family members of the Army soldiers inside the quarters. Meanwhile, distant booms of the guns broke early morning slumbers of residents of the Garrison town Sunjuwan on the outskirts of Jammu today. And their initial belief of it being usual practice shooting inside the Army camp dissipated as the firing became intense and an alarm was sounded. Soon, it dawned on them - the Army camp has been targeted.
Shocking it may sound but it is a fact that Jammu and Kashmir Police doesn't have funds for installation of surveillance towers at strategic locations across the State despite frequent attacks by the terrorists on the security forces. Moreover, no decision has yet been taken on opening of more Police Stations keeping in view the persisting turmoil and alarming increase in different crimes. Keeping in view prevailing security scenario and frequent attacks by the terrorists on the National Highway and other places particularly targeting the security forces, the State Home Department felt it imperative to install video surveillance towers at strategic locations for maintaining hawk's eyes on the activities of anti-national elements. Accordingly, Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out a detailed exercise and a total of 200 locations were identified for video surveillance towers. However, for want of funds no further action could be taken and proposal has remained confined to the official files. These revelations have been made by a panel of 13 Members of both the Houses of State Legislature in its report tabled in the Legislative Assembly. It is pertinent to mention here that several existing CCTVs installed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in different areas of the State either generally remain out of order or develop snag frequently.

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