SRINAGAR, Oct 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to train and equip residents along the Line of Control (LoC) in all the regions to face the crisis arising out of the constant Pakistani shelling.Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah made this announcement at an emergency meeting of the unified command of all the security forces where the entire population, including officials, fled in panic after the Pakistani shelling on Monday.Army authorities suggested the raising of a strong civil defence set-up along the entire border by involving people in crisis management plans. Construction of underground trenches and bunkers for the safety of the civilians in case of firing from across the borders was recommended by the authorities, official sources told The Indian Express here today.The meeting set up a ``core group'' comprising senior Army officers, police, Border Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force to coordinate the operation.The Chief Minister, reportedly, took a serious view of the ``cowardice'' shown by some civil officials at Kargil. He praised the police for showing presence of mind and rescuing the people. Sources said Farooq was particularly critical of the behaviour of a top administrative officer who had not even come out of his residence when the people needed help.The army sources said the flight of the officials from Kargil had a demoralising effect on the pople and it was one of the reasons that not many people are keen to return to their homes.Corps Commander, 15 Corps, Lt Gen Krishan Pal, who is also security adviser to the Chief Minister, apprised Abdullah about the latest situation on the border. He said Pakistani firing had stopped since last evening though reports of intermittent small arm firing have been received.The meeting, attended by State police chief Gurbachan Jaga, senior officers of the state administration, police, Army, BSF, CRPF and heads of intelligence agencies, also discussed the militancy in the state, an official spokesman said.
