'Forces need protective laws'

Updated on: 22 January,2010 08:34 AM IST |
A Correspondent |

Lt. General Mukesh Sabharwal, Adjutant General, Indian Army on Thursday outlined internal security arrangements in Jammu and Kashmir

Lt. General Mukesh Sabharwal, Adjutant General, Indian Army on Thursday outlined internal security arrangements in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was delivering a lecture on "Internal Security in Jammu and Kashmir: Historical Perspective and Emerging Scenario", as a part of the Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOU) Silver Jubilee Lecture today in the IGNOU Maidan Garhi campus.

Remarking on the role of the security forces in the future, Gen Sabharwal said, "In order to operate effectively, security forces need necessary legal provisions to permit them to function/operate.u00a0 Any dilution of protective laws for security forces could thus be damaging.u00a0 Such laws are the only safeguard for security forces, and give them the requisite legal framework which permits them to conduct proactive operations against terrorists".
He further remarked that internal security is a reality and cannot be wished away. For internal security, there is a need to strengthen the local first responders.u00a0 This involves capacity building of the State police forces, to include training of State police and the Central Reserve Police Force.

The importance of leadership of the Paramilitary Forces also cannot be overemphasized, he said.u00a0 "All first responders need to be empowered. First responders need to foresee, rehearse and train for eventualities. Thereafter, we gradually need to reduce the Army's visibility, especially in cities/along roads," General Sabharwal added.