Divided over unified command

The Ministry of Home Affairs has turned down a request by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen retd S.K. Sinha who sought a greater role for ...

The Ministry of Home Affairs has turned down a request by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen retd S.K. Sinha who sought a greater role for the Army in the Unified Command to handle counter-insurgency operations in the state.

In a 12-page letter to the MHA, Sinha had stated that Udhampur-based Army Commander Northern Command should be a part of the Unified Headquarters UHQ. The UHQ is currently headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

It is understood that Sinha cited the example of Assam 8212; where he served his last term as Governor 8212; to pitch the case of the Northern Army Commander being made the Vice-Chairman of the UHQ. In fact, the UHQ in Assam has the Eastern Army Commander as its Vice-Chairman.

Sources said that Army Chief Gen N.C. Vij also followed up by writing a letter to the MHA along similar lines. The MHA, after discussing the issue with the Chief Minister, had replied in the negative to both, saying there was no reason to change the existing system. The decision has the approval of Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani.

At present, General Officers Commanding 15 and 16 Corps, based at Srinagar and Nagrota in Jammu, respectively are members of the UHQ as Security Advisors to the Chairman. Apart from the State Chief Secretary, Inspector Generals of BSF and CRPF in J-K are also part of the UHQ.

Sources said the Governor had written the letter following recommendations by a committee headed by A.K. Bhandari, former special secretary J-K in the Home Ministry.

The committee 8212; which had representatives from the state government, Army, paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies 8212; had suggested multi-layered security in the state with reduced role for the Army in counter-insurgency and internal security.

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Sinha, in his letter, even suggested the setting up of a separate committee 8212; in addition to the UHQ 8212; without any political elements. 8216;8216;He recommended a much greater coordination between the paramilitary forces deployed in J-K 8212; the CRPF and the BSF 8212; and the Army. He said it would translate into improved security scenario and intelligence,8217;8217; the sources said.

The Chief of Army Staff, for that matter, had recommended that the BSF and the CRPF should be under complete command of the Army in the state. At present, they are only under 8216;8216;operational command8217;8217; of the Army. According to sources, the Army chief stated that various security agencies working under differing rules of engagement and legislated authority did not induce coherence.