Srinagar:
Against the backdrop of recent attacks on panchayat members, a crucial meeting of Unified Headquarters chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will be held today during which comprehensive steps to provide security to panches and sarpanches will be discussed.
The meeting, which will be attended by top Police, Army, para military personnel and officials from central security agencies, comes close on the heels of Omar Abdullah's assurance that his government will make every effort to ensure the security of panches and sarpanches.
Several panches and sarpanches have sent in their resignations apprehending threats to their lives in the wake of the killing of panchayat member Mohammed Shafi Teli at Kreeri in Pattan area of North Kashmir on September 23.
Besides Teli, two other panchayat members targeted by terrorists were Ghulam Nabi Yatto on September 10 in Palhallan Pattan in North Kashmir and Gulzar Ahmad Dar of Kulgam on February nine.
Jammu and Kashmir police claimed to have cracked the killing of Dar and made some arrests of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists who are allegedly involved in it.
During the meeting today, a threat assessment of all the panchayat members would be undertaken and personal security provided in areas where presence of security forces is minimal, official sources said.
The Chief Minister had described the killing of panchayat members as acts of cowardice by militants.
The meeting is also expected to underscore the need for the army and other para-military forces to increase their area domination and take steps to prevent terrorists from mixing with the local population.
Strengthening coordination between security agencies including police and sharing of intelligence will be discussed, the sources said.
Army could be told to keep the local police in the loop during search and cordon operations to prevent collateral damage, they said.
Government sources said some vested interests were trying to create trouble in the Valley.
Posters threatening panchayat members have come up in South and North Kashmir, asking them to quit their posts or face dire consequences.
The state government has already announced block level elections in the state to be completed by November this year.