IRCON engineers to get security cover

The Government today decided to provide round-the-clock personal security officers PSOs to all engineers of the Indian Railway Constructio...

The Government today decided to provide round-the-clock personal security officers PSOs to all engineers of the Indian Railway Construction Company IRCON and secure the construction site of the ambitious Rs 6,000 crore Udhampur-Baramullah railway project.

There are around 70 engineers on the project which came to a halt after the murder on June 24 of engineer Sudheer Kumar Pundeer and his brother who were kidnapped by militants. The company had withdrawn all its engineers and staff, saying that they will resume work only after adequate security was provided to them.

The Home Ministry today agreed to provide four additional companies 480 personnel of Central paramilitary forces but it also asked the J038;K government to raise the same number.

The meeting at PMO 8212; chaired by Principal Secretary T.K.A. Nair 8212; was attended by Home Ministry8217;s Special Secretary J038;K B.B. Mishra, senior officials from J038;K government and police, and railway officials including General Manager, Northern Railway R.R. Jaruhar. In a meeting two days ago, Home Secretary Dhirender Singh had reportedly expressed displeasure with the J-K government 8212; represented by Chief Secretary S.S. Biloria 8212; over the handling of the investigations following Pundeer8217;s kidnapping. According to sources, lack of coordination between investigating agencies botched up the probe. They say that while police were negotiating with the kidnappers for Pundeer8217;s release, they failed to keep the Army in the loop. 8216;8216;The Army mounted pressure, conducting combing operations in and around Litter village in Pulwama, where the bodies were finally found,8217;8217; disclosed an official.

The brothers were kidnapped along with labourer Fayaz Ahmad Kuchay and their driver Shabir Ahmad from Gulzar Takna near Awantipora on June 23. Soon after, an IRCON sub-contractor received a call for Rs 50 lakh ransom. The call was made from a cellphone.

8216;8216;In fact, the police suggested to senior railway officials to agree to pay the ransom amount, just to buy some time to trace the kidnappers,8217;8217; disclosed an official.

IRCON Director Ankush Krishna and Chief Administration Officer J-K project Rakesh Chopra were reportedly present at the spot for discussions. Even IG K. Rajendra was present. Having taken railways8217; approval, police assured kidnappers that they would get the money. However, the police failed to inform the Army, which had mounted its independent operation, sources said.

Story continues below this ad

IG General Rajendra, when contacted, said that it was an operational matter and that he would not be able to give details. 8216;8216;All I can say is that we all work in unison,8217;8217; he said. However, he added the abductors were not in touch with police directly but with the railway officials.

8216;8216;The Army apparently got too close to the kidnappers on June 23 and June 24. The kidnappers panicked and thought they were being double-crossed. That was the time when they killed the brothers,8217;8217; sources said.