To restore calm, Armed Police from Jammu airlifted to Valley

Srinagar: In the wake of attacks on rescue teams of NDRF and Army, two battalions of Armed Police have been airlifted from Jammu to flood-ravaged Kashmir Valley to maintain law and order.

A week after floods battered Srinagar, policemen are seen regulating traffic at several roads leading to the airport as communication has been restored in most police stations in the city.

"We have inducted two battalions of Armed Police from Jammu for maintaining law and order in the valley," a senior police officer said. The move comes in the aftermath of several incidents of stone-pelting on Army and National Disaster Response Force teams during relief and rescue operations in the valley, particularly in Srinagar.

Army had yesterday requested the civil administration to deploy police personnel for maintaining law and order. Communication has been restored in most of the police stations in flood-hit areas in Srinagar, DIG, Central Kashmir Range, Syed Ahfadul Mujtaba said.

Except four, all police stations in the city have been linked with the communication system, he said. "Efforts are on to connect the remaining police stations for better management and coordination of relief and rescue efforts in inundated areas," Mujtaba said. Several police stations, which are either not affected by floods or where water has receded, have been turned into base camps for relief distribution in inundated areas, he said.

A week after floods ravaged the summer capital, presence of police on ground could be felt as cops were seen regulating traffic at several roads leading to Srinagar airport. "We are starting from Airport and moving towards the city for deployment of police personnel. Some personnel who were trapped in water-logged areas or those who could not earlier report for duty have also resumed work," the officer said.

The District Police Line, submerged under water, caused a major problem to the police department's efforts in providing succour to the flood-hit population, Mujtaba said.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary MI Khanday appealed to government employees to report for duty as soon as possible. "If you don't pay heed to this appeal, please listen to your conscience," the message on Radio Kashmir said.