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| 2 attacks in south Kashmir within a week, JKP announces more tourneys | | As police host T-20 cricket, militants manage '2:0 lead' on Yatra route | | Abdul Majid
Early Times Report
anantnag, May 12: At a time when security preparedness for the forthcoming Amarnathji Yatra should be priority for security agencies, police is busy in the play fields hosting T-20 cricket tournaments in south Kashmir, the strategically important route for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine.
On Monday, when militants managed a deadly attack on CRPF patrol here, killing two personnel, the Anantnag district police was busy organizing over half a dozen cricket matches.
"Today eight matches of Anantnag T-20 Cricket tournament being organized by J&K Police were played at four different venues in district Anantnag," said a police handout for the fateful day.
When the cricket matches were on, assailants carried out the attack in Halmulah village of Sangam near Panchi Pora crossing on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at 3 pm. Incidentally, the area is a hub of cricket bat manufacturing units.
The militants opened indiscriminate fire on a Road Opening Party of CRPF's 90 Battalion (G-Coy) which was on a routine duty, resulting in spot death of two of its personnel including a junior officer. The militants believed to be four to five in number also decamped with a service rifle and magazine from one of the slain CRPF men. Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security analysts opine that state police was taking things "casually" when the Yatra is round the corner. "There is no scope for security breaches…the attacks should serve as an eye-opener for security agencies," said a security analyst, asking not to be identified.
He said senior cops seem so busy watching cricket matches that they are "losing connectivity with the ground situation." "It's good to host sporting activities but it should not be at the cost of security," said the official, adding that "there's a dire need to reframe the security network in the region". The situation is tense, he added.
The Anantnag attack which triggered panic in the area saw bat-manufacturing unit holders and pedestrians running for cover. This is the second attack in south Kashmir in three days. Earlier on Saturday, militants hurled a grenade towards a vehicle ferrying policemen for a court hearing in busy market of Shopian town. The grenade, however, missed the intended target and injured 16 civilians including two minors. Prior to that last week gunmen killed a man in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, a police handout today said, "Cricketing Extravaganza: Police Public Cricket Premier league" would be held in Srinagar from June 2.
"The Jammu & Kashmir Police is going to conduct 'Police Public Cricket Premier League for J&K Cricketers' on the format of IPL from June 2 at Srinagar with the objective to promote sports culture in the state and provide platform to the cricketers of the state to exhibit their hidden talent and help them to 'feel the aroma of IPL' at Srinagar," the handout said. |
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