Governor NN Vohra orders strong counter-militancy action in J-K

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on Wednesday asked security agencies to identify any gaps and ensure coordinated action on the ground for providing prompt and strong counter-militancy responses on all fronts.

After taking charge of the state earlier in the day following President Ram Nath Kovind’s consent to imposition of Governor’s rule, Vohra met top civil, police and security officials to take stock of ongoing developmental works and the security situation. He directed security officials to take immediate action on
reports regarding any problem arising from security management.

He directed newly appointed Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, a 1987-batch IAS officer, to closely monitor and ensure prompt redressal of all difficulties and grievances relating of people and ensure there is no delay in implementation of welfare measures and development works on the ground.

Subrahmanyam was named as Chief Secretary on Wednesday after his predecessor BB Vyas and Vijay Kumar, a senior security advisor with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, were appointed as advisors by Vohra to help him manage the day-to-day affairs of the state.

Referring to the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, Vohra stressed the need for prompt action to ensure the safety and security of people by making fullest possible use of all available technologies.

The review meeting also reviewed security for the Amarnath yatra, which is scheduled to commence on June 28. It identified certain issues which shall be dealt with on the most urgent basis.

Earlier, Vohra issued a proclamation regarding the imposition of Governor’s rule under Section 92 of the state Constitution. This is for the fourth time in a decade that Vohra has assumed charge of the state in similar circumstances.

Vohra placed the state Legislative Assembly in suspended animation till the proclamation of Governor’s Rule is revoked or varied by a subsequent proclamation. He, in the proclamation, said a situation had arisen in which the state’s government could not be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of J&K.

“In exercise of powers conferred by Section 92 of the state Constitution and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, and with concurrence of President of India, I hereby proclaim that I assume to myself all the functions of government of the state and all powers vested in or exercisable by anybody or authority (other than the powers vested in or exercisable by the high court) in the state,” the proclamation read.