Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 12: Increased militant activity across Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir came up for a high level review at a joint meeting of the Defence and Home Ministries held in New Delhi as Intelligence inputs warned of major terrorist strikes targeting security forces installations as a revenge for September 29 surgical strikes by the Indian Army inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Home Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the meeting, which among others was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar and other top officials of the two Ministries.
Sources told the Excelsior that the high level meeting held this evening at Rajnath Singh’s residence came immediately after the Intelligence inputs suggested massive gathering of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants across LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir, who were planning to infiltrate to this side to carry out BAT (Border Action Team) like attack and target security forces installations to make their presence felt and boost morale of their cadre, which has hit all time low after Indian surgical strikes inside PoK that killed nearly 50 militants including top LeT, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen commanders and left scores of others injured.
According to sources, top officials of Army and BSF have been put on very high alert all along Jammu and Kashmir especially along the LoC and IB to ward off any possibility of terror attacks in the State including defence installations, which were prime targets of the militants after the surgical strikes.
Sources said the high level security review meeting also assessed internal security situation in the Kashmir valley, where reports indicated massive increase in number of militants during over three months long unrest. The inputs indicated that number of militants has gone up in the Valley with infiltration of fresh militants and joining of militancy by some locals, which was the reason for almost regular attacks on security installations and other places.
Sources said top officials of MHA, Defence Ministry and others gave detailed briefing to the Home Minister and the Defence Minister on steps already initiated by security forces to check the militant activities in the hinterland and curb infiltration along Line of Control and International Border, where presence of militants has increased significantly.
“Very specific instructions have been passed on to security forces and police after the meeting including upgrading of security of defence installations and other sensitive areas to thwart militant attack,” sources said, adding that Army and BSF were already maintaining high alert and keeping strict surveillance on the situation along LoC and IB respectively.
Sources said four-day long encounter at EDI building in Pampore also came up for review in the meeting. The two Ministers appreciated the way the situation was tackled. Though the encounter prolonged, there was no fatal casualties on part of security forces and police while both the militants were killed inside.
Apart from Jammu and Kashmir, internal security situation across the country was also reviewed at the high-level meeting.
A separate security review was also held during the meeting for eighth BRIC Summit being held in Goa on October 15 and 16. The BRICS comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to chair the BRICS Summit.
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