Antony sounds infiltration alert

Amid heightened tension on the borders, defence minister AK Antony on Tuesday asked security forces to remain extra-vigilant as infiltration attempts was likely to go up in Jammu and Kashmir.

Chairing the unified command meeting to review security in Jammu and Kashmir, Antony said 2010 may prove to be a crucial year as some elements would make all-out efforts to neutralise the gains made in the last two years.

“The incidents of the first week of January in the Valley are indicative of the shape of things to come,” he said.

Antony said with the improvement in the security situation, time has come for the state police to be given far greater responsibility, particularly in major towns in tackling terrorism.

“However, the handing over of the responsibility must be meticulously planned and undertaken in a gradual and phased manner,” he said.

The defence minister said the union home ministry has issued instructions to CRPF to take over the entire responsibility of opening of roads on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway from January 15.

Seemingly trying to silence those raising the bogey of demilitarisation, the defence minister said the army has vacated all the hospitals and school buildings in the state.

Antony also complimented the state police and other security forces for efficiently handling the Lal Chowk ‘fidayeen’ attack.

The meeting was attended by chief minister Omar Abdullah, defence secretary Pardeep Kumar, army chief General Deepak Kapoor and state police chief Kuldeep Khoda.