Army chief briefs PM, HM; discuss steps to counter terror attacks
Centre monitoring situation with top brass
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 18: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir particularly in the Jammu region which has witnessed spurt in terror attacks in the past over a month.
Last month also, the Prime Minister had chaired a review meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval besides other senior officers on Jammu and Kashmir situation.
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Today’s meeting was attended by CCS members including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ajit Doval and others.
The Defence Minister and the Home Minister are reported to have briefed the Prime Minister about prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir particularly the Jammu region and steps being taken by Army, paramilitary forces and police to eliminate the terrorists and smash their Over Ground network.
The Prime Minister has been in constant touch with the concerned Ministers and senior officers on the situation developing in Jammu region. Only yesterday, Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi briefed the Prime Minister and the Home Minister on the situation including steps taken by the Army to eliminate the terrorists and plug the infiltration routes on the Line of Control (LoC).
Prior to this, the Army chief had also given a detailed briefing to the Defence Minister on the situation in the wake of terror attack on Army’s two vehicles at Badnota near Machedi in Billawar area of Kathua district in which five Army soldiers were martyred and an equal number of others were injured.
Soon after taking over as the Army chief on June 30, Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who had also served as Northern Command chief, had visited forward areas on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts and reviewed the situation in the Jammu region with top Commanders of the Army.
Last month, Narendra Modi chaired a review meeting to assess the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir
Sources said the PM directed full deployment of armed forces’ counter-terror capabilities.
J&K Police have launched a major operation against increased terror activity in the region, which has seen 48 Army personnel, including officers, martyred in action over the past 32 months.
Police sources said multiple individuals suspected of aiding terrorists have been arrested, and large numbers of paramilitary and Army troops were conducting search operations based on intelligence reports.
Sources said the Defence Minister and the Home Minister are regularly monitoring the situation in the Jammu region and the Army, paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police have taken series of initiatives to track down the terrorists who are believed to be battled-hardened ultras and equipped with sophisticated weapons including American made M4 Carbines.
Steps have also been discussed to control the infiltration from the International Border in Jammu and Punjab sectors. There were reports that not only Samba or Kathua sectors but infiltration attempts have also been noticed from the IB along with Pakistan in Samba sector.
Army, paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police have also been deployed in hilly areas to eliminate terrorists by stepping up search operations and restore confidence among the people living there.
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