Civil, Army and Police reviewed ‘pro-war arrangements’ in Ferozepur to meet any challenge
Support of local people is the life-line to be in command of the situation: Venkat Ratnam
Ferozepur, September 30, 2016: Following the Surgical Attack by the Indian Army in J&K in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) after the Uri attack killing 18 Indian jawans, senior officers of Civil, Army and Police today reviewed the ‘pro-war arrangements’, on announcement of a high alert for evacuation of people from the villages within the 10 KMs border belt touching the Pakistan, which was presided over by R,Venkat Ratnam, Principal Secretary specially deputed for the purpose.
The meeting was also attended by IG from Chandigarh, Commissioner Ferozepur Division, SSP, DSPs, SDMs, DEOs and various heads of departments of the district.
Er.DPS Kharbanda, Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur apprised in the meeting about the existing arrangements of 31 relief centers and 4 gurudawaras have been identified in the event of any eventuality where all basic amenities would be made available. He confirmed that ‘relief centers’ have been identified and financial assistance from the government has been received to look after the villagers comfortably.
Addressing the meeting, Venkat Ratnam said, the directions are very clear and 304 villages within 10 kms of the border belt, have to be vacated besides making arrangements for relief centers to accommodate them.
Venkat Ratnam said, In Ferozepur – Ferozepur, Guruharsahai, Mamdot touches with 85 KMs to Pakistan while Zira is at distance of 35 KMs from Ferozepur.
He said, Civil, Army and Police officials should have regular meetings in the morning and evening to analyze the situation and for taking action on day today basis.
He said, all sources have been tapped to accommodate around 3 lac people in schools, colleges, gurudawaras and deras and sufficient space is available. Presently, only 10 to 20 percent people have moved so far and for rest of them have to be pursued for vacation simultaneously when the farmers will be free from their paddy crop.
IG said, After the surgical attack, the neighbor country would also retaliate in the same way but this time it will not be a conventional war like 1965 and 1971 and our first priority should be to evacuate the vulnerable villages which are very close to international border, across the Satluj river.
He also asked the Army officers – Col Gautam and Col Bikram – to keep secret the sensitive points after identification and keep updated the Deputy Commissioner to plan further strategy of any action.
R.K.Bakshi, SSP and his team members along with the concerned SDMs pointed out that the morale of the villagers are very high as they have seen 1965 and 1971 war. Some of them – only ladies and children, have moved to the relatives or nears and dears at a far off places by the youngsters and old people to take care of standing paddy crop and livestock, he added.
A feedback also came from one of the police officer that villagers are not panicky about the war like situation in the absence of any movement by the army in their area.
Commissioner Ferozepur Division, V.K.Meena concluding the meeting appealed to all the officers to have close liaison to meet with the challenging task.
On questioning about the security of belongings and Gurudawars and other religious places, IG confirmed that patrolling parties have been formed to put a check on the belongings, in the case of shifting of villagers to safer places.
When asked about the Standing paddy crop and livestock which are only the constraint for not shifting of the villagers who are close the border line, Deputy Commissioner confirmed that all arrangements for paddy procurement even in the absence of rice shellers not to store the paddy stocks of the agencies, have been reviewed in a meeting with the Chief Ministers and there will be no problem o far as the marketing of paddy is concerned.
