Kashmir asked to review situation

The Home Ministry on Tuesday asked the Jammu & Kashmir government to respond appropriately to ensure security of communication facilities following attacks on mobile towers.

The state government has been asked to prepare an action plan to deal with such a situation and review the security situation.

The Centre’s advisory comes in the backdrop of a grenade attack on a mobile tower in Srinagar on Monday in which two persons were killed.

“Urgent review may be undertaken to assess the extent of the threat and its fallout. Suitable counter measures, including security cover wherever necessary, may be put in place urgently to prevent recurrence of such incidents and to ensure smooth functioning of the communication infrastructure,” the Home Ministry advisory stated.

Security vital

The ministry said security is vital for ensuring smooth functioning of the communication network in the state.

Following the attack, for which a little known organisation called Lashkar-e-Islam claimed responsibility, BSNL franchise outlets and Tower Landlords Welfare Organisation announced they would shutdown their operations.

On Lashkar-e-Islam, sources said, they are yet to ascertain whether the organisation exists. The state government reportedly informed the Centre that the police have zeroed in on those involved in the recent attacks.

Security agencies have seized a device called “repeater” from Sopore, sources said, adding that it has been found that through this device, militants were using mobile towers to run their own networks to communicate to their cadres.

A racket using “repeater” was cracked and militants feel that some tower owners helped the security forces to detect the device, sources said. This could have led to the attack, they said.