CM asks security officers to allow visitors free movement Elaborate security arrangement in place: IGP
Srinagar, May 3: The Civil Secretariat is all set to start functioning in the summer capital from Tuesday for the next six months with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syeed having passed instructions to the security forces to allow free access to visitors.
Officials informed TKS that Raj Bhavan, Civil Secretariat and other offices closed in Jammu on April 25 are scheduled to reopen here on Tuesday as per the Durbar move, a century-old practice under which the government functions six month each in the two capitals.
Sources told TKS that Mufti has passed instructions to the Chief Secretary to pass the directions to the security forces deployed outside the Secretariat that the public should not face any problems or be subjected to any other system for entry other than the one in vogue. “CM has asked the Chief Secretary to make sure the hassle fee entry of the general public,” sources said.
Officials said that they have made all necessary arrangements to ensure smooth functioning of the offices in Kashmir. “While most of the Kashmir-based government employees associated with the Civil Secretariat and other departments arrived in the Valley on April 27, Jammu-based employees have started arriving here since Saturday,” they said.
On the reopening of offices, they said, work will begin from 9.30 AM to 5 PM at the Secretariat, adding that for other departments located outside the Secretariat, work will begin from 10 AM to 4 PM.
A senior government official told TKS that the police band would accord the guard of honor to Chief Minister on his arrival to the Secretariat while he would be received by senior cabinet colleagues and top police and civil administration officials.
Meanwhile, police said that surveillance in the areas and localities in the vicinity of the Secretariat has been stepped up to check for any suspected elements and traffic diversions have also been enforced on the routes close to the summer capital.
Talking to TKS Inspector General of Police Kashmir Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gillani said that all the security arrangements have been put in place for the smooth functioning of the Secretariat. “Security has been stepped up with additional deployment of forces in and around the secretariat. Nobody will be allowed to disrupt the opening of Secretariat,” he said and added that prohibitory orders have been imposed around Secretariat.