With the successful completion of ICC World Cup, all necessary steps were taken by Indian law enforcement and security officials to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011 in India. The event passed off peacefully.
Incidentally, a significant development during the month was the home secretary level talks between India and Pakistan on March 28-29, 2011. At the end of the talks, a joint statement was issued on March 29, 2011.
Jammu and Kashmir
The Group of Interlocutors visited Kashmir during March 11-14, 2011. A 2-day women’s conference was organized on the impact of conflict on women, empowerment of women and role of women in peacemaking.
An expert group under the chairmanship of Dr C Rangarajan constituted by the PMO submitted its report on the job plan for the state of Jammu & Kashmir. On March 15, 2011, a meeting was held by the Home Secretary for the implementation of Skill Empowerment and Employment in Jammu & Kashmir. An amount of Rs. 71 crore under SRE (P) was reimbursed to the Government of J&K.
Central Armed Police Force
A sum of Rs. 1224.64 crore (99.97% of the revised budget estimate of Rs. 1225 crore) has been released to the states under the MPF scheme for state police forces in FY 2010-11. This includes Rs.171.89 crore released to 23 states in March, 2011.
Sanctions worth Rs. 15.46 crore were issued for the purchase of arms and ammunition and equipment for the following Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs):
On March 23 & 25, 2011, sanctions amounting to Rs. 35.07 crore were accorded for the procurement of 706 nos. HF Tx/Rx Digital LHP-265 Radio Sets from BEL.
On March 25, 2011, sanction amounting to Rs. 4.84 crore was accorded for procurement of hardware, software and training cost for GIS for CAPFs.
On March 30, 2011, sanction amounting to Rs. 13.59 crore under the centrally sponsored scheme of Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories and District Mobile Forensic Units was released to 17 States/UTs.
Border Management
India-Bangladesh Border: 15 kms of fencing and 12 kms of road works were completed in March, 2011 under phase II of the project. 11 kms of fencing were replaced in March, 2011 under phase III of the project. Poles for floodlighting were erected on a length of 30 kms and cables were laid on 18 kms stretch in March, 2011.
Coastal Security: Against the target of 204 boats, 189 boats have been supplied so far. Remaining 15 boats are ready for delivery and will be dispatched shortly. Thus all 204 boats have been procured although actual delivery of 15 boats has spilled over beyond 31-3-2011.
Construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs): Construction of ICPs at Attari, Raxaul and Jogbani has commenced. The projects are expected to be completed in June, 2011 for ICP Attari and in November, 2011 for ICPs Raxaul and Jogbani.
Disaster Relief
In the month of March 2011, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams comprising 706 personnel and 28 boats were deployed for emergency response and rescue in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Government of India released the following sums of money from National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) for various natural calamities that happened during the year 2009-10:
National Investigation Authority (NIA)
On March 9, 2011, crime no. 704/2010 of Muvathaupeezha Police Station, District Ernakulum, Kerala pertaining to chopping of the hand of Prof. T. J. Joseph was entrusted to NIA for investigation.
On March 22, 2011, the Malegaon Bomb blast case (of 08-09-2006) and the Mecca Masjid case, Hyderabad (of 11-10-2007), which were under investigation by the CBI, were entrusted to the NIA for investigation.
