‘Work on mission mode, ensure quick response’
Locate tunnels used for infiltration, deal with drone intrusions
Terrorism forced to shrink to a mere proxy war now
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today directed security agencies to implement zero-terror and area domination plans in Jammu division, work on mission mode and ensure quick response in coordinated manner as he reviewed security situation in the UT mainly in the Jammu region which was rocked by four terror incidents between June 9 to 12 resulting into death of nine civilians, seven of them pilgrims, two terrorists and a CRPF jawan besides injuries to many others.
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The Home Minister held two sessions of meetings at the North Block. At the first session from 11 AM to 2 PM, security scenario was reviewed comprehensively in the Jammu region while in second session from 3 PM to 5 PM, Shri Amarnath Ji yatra arrangements were discussed in detail. The annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji is due to start on June 29 and continue till August 19, lasting 52 days.
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National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Army Chief-designate Lt. General Upendra Dwivedi, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh, BSF Director General Nitin Agarwal, J&K Director General of Police R R Swain and other top security and Intelligence officials attended the meeting.
The Home Minister is understood to have stressed on using modern technology to strengthen the local intelligence network, locating the tunnels (if any) used by terrorists for infiltration from the International Border and dealing with the drone intrusions used for transportation of arms, ammunition, explosives and narcotics by Pakistani terrorists with the help of their Rangers from across the border to this side.
While drone movements have been observed a number of times with many such attempts thwarted, there have been reports that a tunnel might have been used by the terrorists for infiltration from the International Border between Samba and Kathua districts. Anti-tunnelling operations are being conducted on the border.
Strict surveillance is also being maintained on any drone movement.
At the meeting, Shah said the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in its decisive phase and recent incidents show that terrorism has been forced to shrink from highly organised acts of violence to a mere proxy war.
Calling upon security agencies to implement area domination and zero-terror plans in the Jammu division like they did in Kashmir to achieve success, the Home Minister declared that the Government is determined to root out terrorism.
Stressing on seamless coordination among security agencies, he called upon them to work on a mission mode and ensure quick response. He called for identifying vulnerable areas and addressing security concerns there.
Reiterating the Government’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said the Government will leave no stone unturned to root out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir.
The efforts of the Government of India have yielded great positive results in the Kashmir valley with significant reduction in terror-related incidents, he said.
Shah noted that the improvement in the law and order situation is reflected in the record flow of tourists in the Kashmir valley.
The Home Minister appreciated the security agencies and the Jammu and Kashmir administration for the successful conduct of the Lok Sabha elections, which witnessed record voter turnout in the Union Territory.
He directed the agencies to replicate in the Jammu division the successes achieved in the Kashmir Valley through the area domination plan and the zero-terror plan.
In a subsequent meeting, Shah also reviewed the preparations for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin on June 29.
The officials said the Home Minister was given a thorough briefing on the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir where security forces are expected to intensify counter-terrorism operations in the coming days.
The operations against terrorists will be carried out in line with the Prime Minister’s directive.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a similar meeting three days back where he directed officials to deploy the “full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities” after a spate of terror incidents.
Terrorists struck at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu region within four days last week, killing nine civilians including seven pilgrims and a CRPF jawan and leaving seven security personnel and several others injured.
Two Pakistani terrorists were also killed in an encounter with security forces in Kathua district.
Meanwhile, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi today.
“Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, met Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation @AmitShah today,” the Union Home Minister’s office wrote on ‘X’.
General Pande will retire from service on June 30.
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