Will hold high-level review of security situation
Rajnath, Army chief to tour Rajouri after Jan 26
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 10: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Jammu on January 13 to interact with terror victim families of Dhangri attack in Rajouri district and review security situation here with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and top brass of security agencies.
“It is likely to be a one-day visit,” officials told the Excelsior.
They said Shah is likely to reach Jammu in the morning of January 13 and fly to Rajouri. He will visit Dhangri village in Rajouri district where two militants struck in the evening of January 1 killing seven civilians, two of them minors, and injuring 10 others.
The Home Minister will meet family members of terror attack and other villagers at Dhangri.
On his return to Jammu, Shah will hold high-level review of security situation with LG Manoj Sinha, top officials of Army, paramilitary forces, JKP, civil administration and Intelligence agencies.
He will return to New Delhi the same evening.
Excelsior had today exclusively reported that Shah could visit J&K shortly to review the situation in the wake of killing of seven members of minority community by the militants at Dhangri in Rajouri district on January 1 and 2.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials are already taking regular feedback from the administration on security scenario of J&K, sources said.
The Home Minister’s visit comes close on the heels of his meeting last night with top BJP leaders from Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi.
“A series of measures have already been taken by the UT administration to check the terror attacks with revival of Village Defence Groups (VDGs), creation of more VDGs, equipping them with sophisticated Self Loading Rifles (SLRs), creation of pickets in minority areas and joint patrolling in sensitive villages,” sources said.
Twenty additional companies of CRPF have been deployed in Rajouri and Poonch districts while more deployments, on the basis of requirements by the UT administration, are not ruled out.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accompanied by Army chief Gen Manoj Pande will also visit the border district of Rajouri including scene of January 1 militant carnage at Dhangri after January 26 for on spot review of the situation and fresh measures required to curb the militancy and coordinate search operations by the troops, wherever necessary.
BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina, Lok Sabha MP from Jammu-Poonch-Rajouri Jugal Kishore Sharma and BJP Organizing Secretary Ashok Koul met Rajnath Singh in New Delhi this morning.
“Rajnath’s visit will take place shortly after January 26,” sources said.
The Defence Ministry has already mobilized its troops in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and is conducting search and cordon operations in various villages along with paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate the militants. Troops have also intensified surveillance all along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts and have scuttled two major infiltration attempts at Karmara and Balakote in Poonch killing two hardcore Pakistani militants and effecting recovery of large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives.
“Besides Rajouri, Rajnath Singh will also visit some other areas of Jammu and Kashmir for extensive review of security situation in the Union Territory especially on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan,” sources said.
They said the Defence Ministry officials are in constant touch with Army Commanders in Jammu and Kashmir and are regularly reviewing security scenario.
“Army Commanders have been asked to provide whatever help was required to paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police in search and cordon operations, tracking down the militants and ensuring complete protection to minorities in Rajouri and Poonch districts and other parts of the region, wherever required,” the sources said.
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