SOLDIERS CHATBOX ..... BIGGER AND BETTER

Sunday, January 3, 2010

National Anomaly Committee

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL  GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS.


National Anomaly Committee
Meeting and decisions.

I WONDER : WHAT ABOUT FAUJIs ??????  ANYBODY........


            The first meeting of the National Anomaly Committee was held on 12th December, 2009. Secretary (Personnel) chaired the meeting.  On behalf of the Confederation, Com. S.K. Vyas, President and Com. K.K.N. Kutty Secretary General attended and participated in the discussion.  In the opening remark, Com. Umraomal Purohit drew the attention of the Chairman of the non-functioning of the Departmental Councils in various departments and the consequent non setting up of Departmental Anomaly Committees.  He also raised the issue of the order of the DOPT defining the term Anomaly, which was at variance with the one given in 1997.  He recalled the discussion he had with the official side in the matter when it was agreed that the definition of the term would be the same as was in the order of 1997.  Responding to the remarks made by the Staff Side Secretary, the Chairman said that his office would take steps to ensure the functioning of the JCM at all levels and informed the meeting that the National Council of the JCM would meet on 16th January, 2009 and the notice therefore has already been issued.  On the question of anomaly, it was informed by the Chairman, that all efforts would be taken to address all questions of anomaly and resolve them.  The official side clarified that all questions of disparity in relativities would also be addressed except on  those on which the 6th CPC has gone into and taken decision enumerating reasons.  The Chairman asked the staff Side to bring to the notice of the DOPT/DOE of all those items which stand rejected by the concerned Departmental Anomaly Committees taking shelter under the extant definition. 

            We now reproduce the items which were discussed and the decisions arrived on each of them. 

  1. The item Nos. 1 to 4 and 5(iii)(iv) and 7 were grouped together and discussed as they were identical in content.  For the sake of convenience, we reproduce item No. 3 which covers all the above mentioned items.


Fixation of Pay in Revised Pay Scale
The VI CPC in para 2.2.19 (vii) has indicated that where prerevised pay scales have been merged it has been done by extending the existing minimum prescribed for the highest pay scale with which the other scales are being merged. Accordingly it has also been stipulated in 7(1) (A) of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 that if the minimum of the Revised Pay Band / Pay Scale is more that what is determined by multiplying the existing basic pay as on 1.1.2006 by a factor of 1.86 and rounding of the resultant figure to the next multiple of 10, the pay shall be fixed at the minimum of the revised Pay Band / Pay Scale. Note 2B below Rule 7, ibid and illustration 4B given in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Revised Pay Rule apply to cases of merger of Pay Scales.  Note 2 B states that pay in the revised Pay Bands will be fixed in the manner prescribed in accordance with Clause (A) (i) And clause (A) (ii) of Rule 7. In illustration 4B a case of an employee in the pre revised pay scale Rs.5000-8000 drawing Rs.5600 as on 1.1.2006 in the pay scale of 6500-10500 has been indicated with which the pay scale of Rs.5000-8000 stands merged.

Taking these into account the pay in the Pay Band in the case of all employees in the Pay Scales of Rs.5000-8000 and Rs.5500-9000 has to be fixed at Rs. 6500 multiplied by 1.86 i.e. Rs.12090. The fixation tables for pay scales 5000-8000 and 5500-9000may therefore be modified fixing the pay in the pay band at Rs.12090 wherever it is less than that amount.

Illustration 4B in the explanatory memorandum to the Revised Pay Rules 2008 may be modified as under:-
Existing Scale of Pay                             5000-8000
Pay Band PB-2                                    9300-34800
Merged with Pay Scale                         6500-10500
Existing Basic Pay as on 1.1.06 Rs.5600
Pay in the PB-2  Rs.5600 X 1.86 = 10420    As per Clause (A) (i) of Rule 7(i) of Revised Pay rules 2008
Pay in the PB-2  Rs.6500- X 1.86 = 12090      As per Clause (A) (ii) of Rule 7 (i) of Revised Pay Rules 2008
            Grade Pay Rs.4200
Revised Basic Pay  Rs.16290
Decision:
The Staff Side pointed out that what has been recommended by the 6th CPC in Para 2.2.19(vii_ in respect of fixation of minimum pay in the Pay band for merged pay scales had not been taken into account while computing the pay band and the table.  After some discussion, the official side stated to have a re-look into the matter.
Item No. 5(i)
On Revised Pay Rules. 2008
(i).Option
It has been mentioned under sub rule 4 thereof that the option once exercised shall be final and should be exercised within three months from the date of notification of the rule vide Sub rule I thereof. Since it is very difficult to comprehend and assess the implication of such option, we propose that the first option exercised within three months may not be treated as final and the employees be permitted to revise the option within six month of the date of exercising the first option.

Decision.
The official side has agreed to allow another option.  The Side Side also pointed out during the discussion that the option exercised by the officials under F.R. 22(I)(A(1) on promotion has been restricted to only first promotion, which appears to be unreasonable.  The official side has agreed to examine whether the above option can be allowed to cover all promotions.

Item No. 5(ii)
(ii). Special allowance and qualification pay which are taken for fixation purposes on promotion should be doubled with effect from 1.1.2006 and not from 1.9.2008 as it cannot be construed to be an allowance. If this is not done, senior employees will suffer loss in emoluments, in case of persons who are promoted during the period between 1.1.2006 and 1.9.2008.
It was pointed out that the item relating to 5th CPC is still pending at the Standing Committee.  The Official Side stated that the item would be covered when a decision is taken on the item relating to 5th CPC.

Item No. 5(vi)
(vi) Rule 9. Date of next increment
It is seen after going through the stipulation in the above rules that a person whose increment falls on 1.1.2006 will get the increment on 1.1.2006 in the pre revised pay scale and will get the next increment in the revised pay structure on 1.7.2006 i.e. on expiry of six months. Similarly those, whose next increment is between 1st July, 2006 and 1st December, 2006 would also be granted next increment in the revised pay structure on 1.7.2006. On the other hand, the persons whose increment dates are between 1st Feb. 2006 and 1st June 2006 have to wait for more than 12 months to get the next increment on 1.7.2006. This is quite anomalous. In the case of those who retire during the period between 1st Feb. and 30th June, they will suffer a loss of one increment perpetually thus affecting their pension. It is, therefore proposed that the persons whose increment falls between 1st February and 1st June, 2006 may be given one increment on 1.1.2006 as a one time measure.

The official side agreed to issue orders to cover those in service between 1.1.2006 and 1.7.2006 as a one time measure.  The Staff Side however, pointed out that they have made the suggestion for a one time measure on the specific understanding that Rule 9 of the Revised Pay Rules 2008 has no applicable in the fixation of increment date in future as in those cases, the Fundamental Rules will have the application.  The Official side was of the opinion that the Revised Pay Rules will override the provisions of the Fundamental Rules.  The Staff Side then contended that the increment of an official cannot be postponed except on award of a penalty after  initiation of the disciplinary proceedings. The official side after some discussion agreed to reconsider the issue in the light of the contention made by the Staff Side. 

Item  No. 5(vii).
(vii).     Tax deduction from salary:
Spread over of the arrears of salary is permissible under section 89 (a) of the I.T. Act.  No tax will thus become payable by Group D employees on account of receipt of arrears eventually. Therefore, executive instructions may be issued not to deduct any tax from the arrears payment pertaining to the Group D employees. In respect of others, they may be allowed to exercise option to tax the arrears either on receipt basis or accrual basis.

Decision .
Since the arrears have all been paid after deduction of tax, this item was not pressed.

Item No. 5(vii)Temporary Status Casual Labourers

As per existing scheme the employees who are afforded temporary status are paid the wages computed with reference to the minimum of the corresponding scale of pay of regular employees. In the case of Group D temporary status employees, it will become necessary that they are afforded the requisite training if they are non- matriculates.

Decision.

Orders would be issued in the case of temporary status employees.  In the case of those who died /retired between 1.1.06 and 1.9.2008 grant of grade pay of Rs. 1800 without training was raised by the Staff Side.  It was agreed that the Govt. would take a decision in their case  favorably.

            Item No. 6.

Benefit on promotion.

It is an accepted proposition that an employee when promoted to a higher post involving higher responsibility should get a suitable raise in his salary. It was on this consideration that FR 22-C was framed whereby the promotee was first granted an increment in the lower Pay Scale and then fixed at the appropriate (next) stage in the higher grade.

At the time of V CPC it was agreed that minimum increase in salary on promotion shall not be less then Rs.100/- There are certain grades in which, on promotion, a hike of Rs.650/- is being allowed with reference to pre-revised pay scale.

In these circumstances grant of only one increment in the lower Pay Band / Pay scale and difference in grade pay, if there be any, being granted on promotion is certainly inadequate. We therefore propose that minimum benefit on promotion should not be less than 10% of the Pay+Grade Pay of the feeder post.

Decision:

The official side stated that the above item was not covered under the definition of anomaly.  However, after some discussion, it was agreed that the official side would further discuss the issue outside the forum  of the Anomaly Committee.

Item No. 7.
Fixation of pay on promotion.
The minimum Entry pay with Grade Pay in the revised pay structure for direct recruits appointed on or after 1.1.2006 has been specific vide first Schedule, Part –A, Section II of the Gazette Notification of the Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance No. G.S.R. 622 (E) dated 29.8.2008.
           
On promotion, the pay of the promotees should not be less than the direct recruits.

In VI CPC structure there is no pay scale and new concept of grade pay has been inducted, which should determine the status.  As such the following provisions need to be inserted below clarification 2.  'The method of Fixation of Pay on promotion on or after 1.1.2006.

"on promotion to the higher grade pay of an employee should be fixed appropriately and in any case it should not be less than the entry Pay in the revised pay structure for direct recruits appointed on of after 1.1.2006 for the post." further, on promotion to the next higher grade pay an employee should be fixed by adding 10% of pay, plus the grade pay as demanded by NC/JCM in its memorandum submitted to the Chairman, NC/JCM/Cabinet secretary on 8.4.2008.

Decision.
The Official Side agreed to issue enabling orders in the matter.

Item No. 8.

Refixation of pension/family pension.

Para 9 of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension's O.M. No. F.No. 38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 1.9.2008 states as under:-
"The consolidated pension / family pension as worked out in accordance with provisions of para 4.1 above shall be treated as final basic pension with effect from 1.1.2006 and shall qualify for grant of Dearness Relief sanctioned thereafter.".

This has left uncovered the provision made in para 4.2 of the same OM, which lays down as under:-

"The fixation of pension will be subject to the provision that the revised pension in no case, shall be lower than fifty present of the minimum of the pay in the pay band plus the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired. In the case of HAG + and above scales, this will be fifty percent of the minimum of the revised pay scale."

Since refixation of pension has been allowed both under paras 4.1 and 4.2, they should both he covered in para 9 of the OM.  It is requested that para 9 of the said OM may be revised including both paras 4.1 and 4.2 thereof.

Decision.
Orders have been issued vide O.M.dated 12th and 14th September, 2009

Item. No. 9.

Anomaly in pension for Government Servants who retired/Died in harness between 1.1.2006 and 1.9. 2006
The Sixth Central Pay Commission lays down inter-alia that once an employee renders the minimum pensionable service of 20 years, pension should be paid at 50% of the average emoluments received during the past 10 months or the pay last down, whichever is more beneficial to the retiring employee.

As per the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension O.M. F.No. 38/37/08-P&P(W)(A) dated 2nd September 2008, these orders shall come into force with effect from the date of issue of this OM, namely 2nd September 2008 and shall be, applicable to all Government Servants becoming entitled to pension after rendering the minimum qualifying service of 20 years or on completion of 10 years qualifying service in accordance with rule 49(2) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

However, the Govt. servants who have retired on or after 1.1.2006 but before the date of issue of this OM (2.9.2008) have been debarred from this benefit. They will be governed by the rules/ orders which were in force immediately before coming into effect of these orders. In other words their pension will be calculated on average emoluments received during the last 10 months and not on the actual pay last drawn. It is requested that this discrimination should be removed.

Decision.
Orders are under issue.  The Staff Side raised the inordinate delay in fixing the revised pension and disbursement of arrears to pensioners.  The official side assured to monitor the payment of arrears to pensioners.  The refusal on the part of many banks to issue the due and drawn statement even on requisition was also brought to the notice of the Chairman.  The Director (Pension) assured that suitable instructions would be issued in this regard to all Banks.

Item No.10.
Commutation of pension.

The minimum period of service for eligibility for pension is 10 years. For appointment to Government Service the minimum age is 18 years. In view of this, if a person is appointed at the age of 18 years he cannot become eligible for pension unless he has served for a period of at least 10 years and attained the age of 28 years i.e. when his birthday falls in the 29th years.

The table adopted a per the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension's OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 2.9.2008 shows the minimum age of next birthday after retirement as 20 which is not understood. It is requested that suitable amendment to the table referred to may be notified.

The item was withdrawn by the Staff Side.

Item No.11 to 14. These items were deferred for discussion at the next meeting.

Item No.15.
Parity in pension of all pre 1996 retirees with those who retired on or after 1.1.2006

The Government have already accepted in principle that there shall be parity in pension amongst pensioners irrespective of the date from which they had retired. 
Accordingly pension of all pre 1986 retirees was revised with effect from 1.1.96 by first determining the notional pay which would have been fixed as on 1.1.86 (treating as if the employees were in service on that date) and then the Notional Pension was updated by applying the same fitment formula which was applied to serving employees.
We, therefore demanded that the notional pay of all pre 1996 retirees may be fixed as on 1.1.96 in terms of Revised Pay Rules, 1996 and the notional pension as on 1.1.96 may be revised w.e.f. 1.1.06 by applying the same fitment formula which is applied in the case of serving employees i.e. by multiplying the notional pension as on 1.1.96 by 1.86 + the Grade Pay of the Pay Scale (V CPC) from which they would have retired.

The revision of pension has been done by applying the formula of Basic Pension as on 1.1.96 + Dearness Pension (50% of Basic Pension) + Dearness Relief on Basic Pension + Dearness Pension+40% of Basic Pension.

This is not the same that has been granted to serving employees. In whose case the Grade Pay which is the fitment benefit is 40% of the maximum of the Pre-revised Pay Scale.
As such the Pensioners should also be granted 50% the of Grade Pay of the Pay Scale from which they had retired by way of fitment benefit and not 40% of Basic Pension.

Decision.
The Staff Side pointed out that the 6th CPC in order to maintain the existing modified parity between the present and future retirees had indicated that it would be necessary to allow the same fitment benefit as is being recommended for the existing Government employees vide para 5.1.47 in page 338.  However, the Commission recommended that all past pensioners should be allowed fitment benefit equal to 40% of the basic pension. The statement and the recommendation made to give effect to the statement was at variance giving rise to anomaly and disparity in pension entitlement between the past pensioners and the future pensioners.  After detailed discussion, the official side agreed to consider the issue once again.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Staff Side took up the matter concerning non representation of Postal Federations in the National Council as some members of a Federation which could not muster even 5% membership had been approaching one court or the other in a bid to delay the verification process and consequent recognition of the Associations and Federations in the Postal Department.  As it would be a never ending process,  the denial for the unions who had mustered more than 75% of the membership representation in the National Council would be a miscarriage of justice, the Staff Side added..  The Director (SR) of the Postal Department, who had represented the Postal Department in the official side agreed with the contention of the Staff Side and reported to the Chairman, that they had granted adhoc recognition to the Unions who had mustered the requisite membership and the Department Council had also been convened and met on adhoc basic.  The question of granting of representation to the representatives of the Staff in the National Council had been referred to the Department of Personnel and their advice in the matter was being solicited.  The Chairman assured the Staff Side to look into the matter and take appropriate decision soon.

The denial of revised higher Grade Pay to Master Craftsmen of Workshops in MMS in the Postal Department, while affording the same to those in Railways and Defence was also raised by the Staff Side.  The Department of Expenditure pointed out that they had not received any reference from the Postal Department in this matter, whereas the official side representative of the Postal Department stated that they had referred this matter to them earlier.  After some discussion, it was agreed that the Department of Expenditure and the Postal Department would sort out this matter expeditiously.


With greetings,
Yours fraternally,


K.K.N. Kutty
Secretary General
 

After recruiting sex workers, Indian Army plans ban on mobiles’ use by soldiers

FROM PAKISTAN : THE DAILY MAIL
 

NEW DELHI—As if the drive to recruiter sex workers to reduce stress and frustration level of the troops, deployed in Occupied Kashmir, was not enough, the Indian Army leadership has now decided to ban the use of mobile phones by troops to minimize their stress level, reveal the findings of The Daily Mail.
These findings indicate that senior medical officers of the Indian armed forces believe that just engaging the sex workers under the grab of female soldiers was not enough to rid the soldiers of frustration and mental stress but the use of mobile phone by troops was also a permanent source of stress and strain for the soldiers, deployed in the occupied valley.
“The problem is not the stress in the encounter, the problem is the cell phone and that should be banned,’’ said Lt-General Dipankar Ganguly, speaking on the occasion of the 246th anniversary of the Army Medical Corps here yesterday.
The top General said that cell phones allowed the soldiers to maintain regular contact with their families and get updated on their problems, which led to higher levels of stress among them.
Armed Forces Medical Services Director General Lt-Gen N K Parmar, in his observation, said that the armed forces had taken a number of steps to tackle stress-related issues among the troops. “A confidential move was made in September last by the Army High Command to minimize the level of mental stress and frustration of the soldiers posted in Kashmir,” said General N.K Parmar, referring to the move made under the recommendations of General Raj Kumar Committee, constituted by Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor.
But, as reported earlier, armed forces continue to grapple with stress-related deaths in the shape of suicide and `fragging’ (to kill a fellow soldiers) cases. In 2008, for instance, there were 151 suicide and four `fragging’ cases in the three Services.
While prolonged deployment in operations in Indian occupied part of J&K and North-East are exacting a heavy toll on the physical endurance and mental health of soldiers, they also undergo tremendous stress for not being able to take care of the problems facing their families back home. The problems could range from property disputes and harassment by anti-social elements to financial and marital problems.
Soldiers, of course, also have to grapple with paltry salaries, lack of basic amenities, ineffectual leadership, humiliation at the hands of their officers, and the constant fear of being accused of human rights violations.
It is worth mentioning here that earlier last year, in another bid to relieve the soldiers of the mental stress and sexual frustration, the Indian Army deployed around 200 prostitutes under the cover of Border Security Force’s constables in the Indian occupied Kashmir along with the Line of Control in September 2009. The decision of recruiting prostitutes for deployment in the held valley was taken in around February 2009 and Indian Army Chief General Kapoor finally approved it. This decision was taken as result of discussions and consultancies regarding the alarmingly increasing incidents of suicides and killing colleagues by soldiers of Indian army that are deployed in the Indian Occupied Kashmir to fight insurgency.
The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that the factor of suicides and random shoot outs on colleagues by Indian soldiers in the held valley had become a big dilemma for the Indian army top brass. When this exercise gained momentum earlier this year, the army leadership approached different consultants and analysts. The consultants and analysts reached to the conclusion that Indian soldiers, deployed in the valley were committing suicides and killing colleagues out of acute frustration and depression. Medical and psychological consultants and analysts were of the view that since majority of the soldiers, deployed in the valley were married and were away from their wives for very long time, they were gripped by sexual frustrations which ultimately transformed into mental frustration.
These consultants suggested that the soldier posted in the valley should be sent on leaves to be with their wives once a month. This came as another dilemma for the Indian Army’s top brass as it was not possible at all to send such huge number of soldiers on leaves with regular intervals. The Daily Mail’s investigations further reveal that upon this a Major General was sent to Moscow to get some solution to the problems as Russians have been having some sort of similar problems around 2 decades back. This General, identified as General Kumar, returned with a very strange solution. The Russian consultants told the Indian army that the since the soldiers in the valley were women starving, they should be provided with women to meet their genuine and natural needs.
The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that at this stage, the Indian Army Chief constituted a committee under the command of Lt.General. Raj Kumar Karwal who currently posted as Director General of a training facility of the Indian army while Major General. Sanjeev Loomba, Brigadier. Anil Sharma, Colonel. N K Khunduri and Colonel.
Sanjay Rai were members of the committee. The committee finally came up with the solution that since it was not possible to provide street whores directly to the soldier thus professional prostitutes should be recruited with title of sex workers and than they should be given basic military training and should be posted in Kashmir sector as soldiers so that the male soldiers can establish relations with them. It was also decided that the recruitment should not be made publicly but RAW’s help should be sought as RAW was having a huge network of prostitutes in different cities of India. The Daily Mail’s investigations reveal that RAW completed the assignment successfully and provided a batch of some 300, semi educated prostitutes to the General Raj Kumar committee after proper medical checkup of every individual. The committee then approached the Army Chief and it was decided that these new recruit should not be made part of mainstream army but should be adjusted in Border Security Force (BSF) and from there their services would be made available for Northern Command. The project was completed by the end of August when the new recruited batch of 300 completed a basic military training and Army Chief was informed that recruits were ready for deployment in the valley.
When contacted by The Daily Mail, Inspector General of BSF Himmat Singh confirmed that a batch of 178 female soldiers was sent to Northern Command where they were deployed along with Indo-Pak border to check the border violations by women, working in the field. Mr. Singh further stated that these women were not fully trained for operational military duties however in the next phase, after further training, they would be given the duties of operational Border security. Mr. Singh refused to admit that these female soldiers were actually prostitutes and were dispatched to the valley as undercover sex workers.

Defence Secretary to head team for Beijing dialogue

THE HINDU
 

As part of annual dialogue, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar will leave for Beijing on Tuesday for a meeting with his Chinese counterpart and discussions to carry forward the ties between the two militaries.

The Sino-Indian Defence Dialogue will be held on January 6 and 7. Mr. Kumar will lead a delegation that includes Major-General Munish Sibal from the Eastern Command and officers of the Navy and the Air Force.

“We will be sharing our perception of issues in the region and world while looking at exchange programmes between the personnel of the three services and joint exercises,” a top official in the Ministry told The Hindu.

In its 2008-09 annual report, the Ministry noted that while monitoring China’s defence modernisation and its military assistance and cooperation with Pakistan, New Delhi would engage Beijing “to seek greater transparency and openness in its defence policy and posture, while taking all necessary measures to protect the national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of India.”

In December 2007, the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army of China held the first joint exercise in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency. It was held in Kunming, Yunan province, around the time when the first annual defence dialogue took place.

During December 2008, while the second annual defence dialogue was held in New Delhi, joint exercises took place in Belgaum, Karnataka.

Last year, no exercise was scheduled since China could not spare its forces. Joint exercises are expected to be held this year. 


Incursions

While New Delhi has maintained that there is no increase in the number of incursions on the Sino-Indian border, the issue is expected to figure during next week’s dialogue.

Recently, during his visit to New Delhi, the PLA Deputy Chief of General Staff, General Ge Zhen Feng, told Defence Minister A.K. Antony that the present generation of political leadership in both countries would solve the border dispute through political negotiations and dialogue.

On his part, Mr. Antony said India did not want to escalate differences and would work to strengthen cooperation in various areas to the benefit of both countries.

2 BSF Men Shot In Soura

KASHMIR OBSERVER
 

After sudden appearances in Sopore, militants struck in Srinagar today, critically injuring two BSF men in an armed attack in Soura.
The attack, the first in the new year, came even as the city remained under a security alert following militant strikes in Sopore and elsewhere in the valley.
Reports said that suspected militants opened fire on two BSF men at a close range when the latter were withdrawing cash from an ATM booth in the area.
The injured personnel, head constable Saifuddin Ahmad and constable Dhamendra Singh, were rushed to the SKIMS by the police and the paramilitary men deployed in the area, and are reported to be in a critical condition.
A police officer said that armed persons had struck without warning in Soura outskirts and injured two BSF personnel by opening fire at a close range.
Heavy contingents of the police and the paramilitary forces were rushed to the area following the attack to seal off the locality for searches.
The senior superintendent of the police (SS) for Srinagar, Javed Reyaz Bedar, said that the two personnel had come to the SKIMS for treatment, and had gone to the ATM to draw cash when they were attacked.
The SSP said that a policeman had opened retaliatory fire but that the force had exercised restraint in view of the heavy crowd.
Security in the city has been heightened further in the wake of the attack, with intensified checking of vehicles and frisking of pedestrians being taken in hand afresh.
In view of the series of attacks in Sopore in the recent past, and the sudden strike in Srinagar, intelligence agencies fear that militants had adopted a new strategy of carrying out guerrilla strikes in busy areas and getting away in the thick of the crowd.