Crush terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, take strict action against its supporters: Amit Shah

Crush terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, take strict action against its supporters: Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a high-level security meeting on Jammu and Kashmir to review security arrangements for the upcoming annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath and the “current security situation in Jammu region in the wake of recent terrorist attacks”. According to sources, Shah directed Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and top security officials of the Union Territory to “crush the emerging terrorism in Jammu region and not let it flourish again at any cost”, while also stressing on full security cover for the yatra. The meeting, which was held in New Delhi, was attended by Army Chief Gen Manoj Pandey, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, IB Director Tapan Deka, CRPF DG Aneesh Dayal Singh, sources said.

The meeting was attended by LG Sinha, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP RR Swain, Vijay Kumar, ADGP (L&O), senior military officials from Jammu and Kashmir and intelligence officials. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was also present in the meeting. Sources said Home Minister Shah has sought a detailed report on the current security situation in the Jammu region in view of the recent rise in terrorist attacks. “The Home Minister was briefed about the current security scenario in Jammu. He directed top security officials to take strict action against terrorists active in Jammu and elements supporting them,” he said. “The Home Minister expressed concern over the attack on Shiv Kohri pilgrims and called for coordinated efforts to ensure the safety of pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi, Shiv Kohri and other shrines.

He directed security officials to maintain strict vigil on highways and sensitive points to safeguard the movement of security forces and pilgrims. He said elements supporting terrorists in Jammu should be dealt with “strictly and terrorism should not be allowed to flourish in the region at any cost.” Sources said the home minister directed top security officials to gather human intelligence to reach out to terrorists active in Jammu. “He also stressed on closing down the points from where foreign terrorists have managed to sneak in,” sources said. The home minister also called for putting in place a “multi-layered security cover” for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra and stressed that “every single pilgrim should be protected and the pilgrimage should be conducted in a safe security environment,” sources said.

He informed that the Home Minister also stressed the need to secure the Yatra routes to the base camps. The annual Yatra will commence on June 29 and conclude on August 19. The meeting also discussed security planning of all tourist sites and landmarks in Kashmir and Jammu and also fine-tuned measures to prevent possible attacks by terrorists. The Home Minister expressed satisfaction over the peaceful situation in Kashmir and the lowest ever graph of recruitment of local terrorists. He also lauded the security agencies for the smooth and peaceful conduct of Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir which witnessed record participation of people. It may be noted that today’s meeting comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security meeting in Delhi in which he called for using the “full spectrum of resources” to crush foreign terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.