Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval review security situation in J&K

Union home minister Amit asked the security forces to continue their coordinated efforts through meticulous and well-planned counter-terror operations to wipe out terrorism in the union territory.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the security in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the security forces to continue their coordinated efforts through meticulous and well-planned counter-terror operations to wipe out terrorism in the union territory.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the security in Jammu and Kashmir (PTI)

“Terror eco-system comprising elements that aid, abet and sustain the terrorist-separatist campaign to the detriment of the well-being of common man requires to be dismantled,” Shah said during the meeting, which was attended by J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and senior officers of central and J&K agencies.

Shah reviewed the working of the security grid and various actions taken to reduce the incidents of terrorism over the last few years. He appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and Jammu and Kashmir administration for the successful conduct of the Amarnath Yatra, held between June and August after a gap of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an official statement said.

The home minister said it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to have a prosperous and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir, and security forces should strive to make the border and the LoC impregnable to achieve this, the statement added.

“Once the fear of cross-border movement of terrorists, arms and ammunition is eliminated, the people of Jammu and Kashmir would decisively defeat the proxy war with the help of security forces,” Shah said.

According to the statement, the meeting reviewed the cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and it was stressed that the investigation should be timely and effective. The agencies concerned should work on improving capacities for ensuring quality investigation.

The meeting was called after a series of attacks on security personnel and civilians in the last few weeks and attempts by terrorists from across the border to infiltrate India.

A group of terrorists on August 11 attacked an army camp in Rajouri killing four soldiers. The attackers were gunned down by the security forces.

The government had informed Parliament that, till last month, as many as 118 civilians, including five Kashmiri Pandits and 16 other Hindus and Sikhs, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019.

The killings of Kashmiri Pandits triggered protests by the members of the community, who demanded enhanced security and transfer of government employees to safer locations.

In May, four Hindu pilgrims were killed and at least 20 injured when their bus caught fire near Katra in Jammu. Police suspect a sticky bomb might have been used to trigger the fire.