New Delhi: Revoking the letter issued by the office of the Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Srinagar, over the speculation of the deteriorating situation in the Valley, Director General of RPF, Arun Kumar said that the letter is "unauthorised" and has "no basis".
Stating that the "precautionary security measures" are being discussed during a "security meeting", the letter asks the RPF personnel to purchase, in advance, dry ration for at least four months and to store drinking water for at least seven days consumption. It also said that the Railway officials should always keep their bag ready with sufficient amount of eatables, drinking water, money to "meet any crisis situation."
While speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Arun Kumar said, "The letter is unauthorised, there is no basis of that. Our Senior Divisional Security Commissioner has gone on study leave. The person who has issued this letter has written this based on his own perceptions. There is no way that we have access to intelligence or any specific information about the situation in the Valley. That is totally misplaced and baseless circular, we've already withdrawn it."
The Ministry of Railways also revoked the letter by saying that the "officer was not authorised to issue such a letter and did not have the approval of the competent authority to do so either."
The Inspector General (Northern Railways), RPF, Sanjay Kishore is being sent to Kashmir to assess the situation and take corrective action, informed DG RPF.
According to the letter, a precautionary security meeting was held on 27th of July which was being chaired by Sudesh Nugyal, Assistant Security Commissioner, RPF, regarding the "forecast of the deteriorating situation in the Valley and issue of law and order for a long period." Arun Kumar said, "The officer is new in the Valley and he is going to retire next month. So how can he ask the RPF personnel to store food for the next four months? This is completely baseless."
The letter also asked the local staff to send their families to their relatives or native places as "they would be more safe there" and also asked the officials not to negotiate with mobs and not to allow them near Railway installations.
"Everything is normal in the Valley and no such instructions are being given to the RPF," said Arun Kumar.
Also read: This differently-abled auto driver from Chhattisgarh seeks govt intervention