NIA seeks ‘secure’ accommodation at Gupkar Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 8 : NIA has sought a full-fledged and “secure” accommodation for office-cum-residential purposes for its personnel at high-security Gupkhar Srinagar.

According to an application addressed to Chief Secretary, a copy of which lies with GNS, NIA has cited threats to its personnel who visit Srinagar frequently and seek accommodation in guesthouses, barracks of BSF, CRPF and police.

“We are facing lot of difficulties in detaining/questioning suspects / accused, in absence of our own office,” NIA said, adding “NIA has taken up investigation of a number of sensitive cases in the State of Jammu & Kashmir including attacks on vital security installations at Uri, Nagrota, Langate, Lethopora, and Udhampur”.

Besides, the NIA said, that it has also been investigating militant funding related cases in the valley in which several “high profile Hurriyat/ separatist activists have been arrested”.

“It is therefore requested that a built-up secure accommodation already existing at the Gupkar Road, Srinagar may kindly be allotted to the NIA for office-cum-residential purposes,” the NIA said.

NIA officials are required to camp at Srinagar continuously for long periods for investigation related work, reads the application. There have been instances of threats to the life of NIA personnel who visit Srinagar frequently, it said.

Meanwhile, the NIA further said that the Jammu Development of Authority had allotted 2 ½ acres of land (20 kanals ) falling under Khasra No.119 in village Majeen to it at a cost of Rs.3.61 crore residential complex of NIA Branch office, Jammu.

“The amount of Rs. 3.61 crore towards acquisition of this land was paid to JDA on 16-06-2017. However, the land has still not been transferred to NIA by JDA,” the NIA said and urged the chief secretary to look into both matters “personally”.

“May I, therefore, request you to look into both the matters personally and direct the concerned authorities to allot one ready built safe accommodation at Gupkar Road Srinagar and expedite the transfer of the above piece of land in Jammu so that the construction work could be commenced without any further delay,” the NIA added.

“In the year 2016, Government of India had approved established of a Branch office of NIA at Jammu which started functioning from a rented accommodation on 1 September 2016”.

“Keeping in view the vulnerability of its personnel from the security point of view, Government of Jammu & Kashmir was requested by NIA for allotment of 03 acres of land for construction of its office and residential complex.”

The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) allotted 2 ½ acres of land (20 kanals ) falling under Khasra No.119 in village Majeen to NIA at a cost of Rs.3.61 crore vide letter No. JDA/Land/203 dated 18-01-2017 and dated 23-02-2017. The amount of Rs.3.61 crore towards acquisition of this land was paid to JDA on 16.06.2017. However, the land has still not been transferred to NIA by JDA.

“I shall be grateful, if you could look into the matter personally and direct the concerned authorities to expedite the transfer of the above piece of land so that the construction work could be commenced at the earliest,” reads the letter written by an NIA officer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)