Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 20: Amidst escalated tensions along the International Border in Jammu sector, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde would visit Samba and Hiranagar sectors and review security scenario in the State especially the borders at Unified Headquarters meeting here on October 22 during one day visit of Jammu.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Mr Shinde would land at Samba and visit BSF Battalion Headquarters, where he would be briefed on the situation prevailing on the International Border in the wake of Pakistan firing and shelling.
Later, he would visit Hiranagar police station, where three fidayeens had on September 26 killed four police personnel and two civilians.
Sources said Mr Shinde would meet the BSF Commandants at the Battalion Headquarters in the presence of senior BSF officers and inquire from them the situation prevailing on the border, anti-infiltrations measures taken by the BSF and steps to counter shelling and firing by the Rangers, which have witnessed a spurt during past few days.
He would chair the Unified Headquarters meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence after the lunch. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad are reaching here from Srinagar to attend the meeting.
Sources said top brass of Army, BSF, CRPF, Intelligence Bureau, police, civil administration and other para-military and Intelligence agencies operating in the State would attend the Unified Headquarters meeting, which was likely to last about two hours as Mr Shinde is scheduled to fly back to New Delhi at 4.15 pm the same day.
Sources said the Union Home Minister would review situation prevailing along the IB rights from Kathua to Akhnoor sector in Jammu region, which has been witnessing heavy shelling and firing from Pakistan side, in the meeting and steps taken by the security agencies to counter Pakistan’s firing and infiltration attempts by the militants.
Under the cover of firing, the Pakistani Rangers had been trying to push the infiltrators. The BSF had foiled an infiltration attempt on the intervening night of October 18 and 19 at Suchetgarh Kullian sector and killed a suspected guide of the terrorists.
The review of September 26 fidayeen attack by three militants from Pakistan is also high on agenda of the Union Home Minister, sources said.
The Home Ministry had ordered an inquiry into the twin terror attacks including reported infiltration of three militants from the International Border in Paharpur forward area of Hiranagar sector on September 26. The militants had attacked Hiranagar police station killing four police personnel and two civilians and then Mehsar Army camp in Samba district in which four Army soldiers including Second-in-Command of the Unit Lt Col Bikramjeet Singh were killed. Army had gunned down all three fidayeens.
The Unified Headquarters could devise a strategy to ensure that September 26 like fidayeen attacks didn’t take place.