New Delhi, Jan 02: In response to a recent terror attack in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, led a crucial review meeting today to assess the security situation.
The meeting, held in New Delhi, was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary, Chief of Army Staff, Director (IB), Heads of CAPFs, Chief Secretary, and DGP of Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, Amit Shah scrutinised the area domination plan devised by security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on eradicating the looming threat of terrorism. Emphasizing the need to bolster counter-terrorism operations, Shah stressed the imperative of completely eliminating the terror eco-system. He directed security agencies to ensure strategic deployment in vulnerable areas and underscored that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government maintains a zero-tolerance stance against terrorism.
Amit Shah highlighted the significance of adhering to due procedures in counter-terror operations and underscored the need for reinforcing the local intelligence network. He commended the security agencies and the administration of the Union Territory for their concerted efforts, leading to a substantial decline in terror-related incidents, infiltration, and an improvement in the overall law and order situation.
The meeting was held days after four soldiers were killed and three injured following an encounter started after terrorists fired at two army vehicles passing through Dera Ki Gali in Rajouri’s Poonch region at around 3.45 pm on December 21 last year.
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army chief Pande had visited Poonch in the wake of these incidents.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration had also announced compensation and jobs to the families of the dead civilians and said legal action on the matter has been initiated.
In November last year, five soldiers including two Captains were also killed in action after the Army and its special forces launched an anti-terror operation in Rajouri’s Kalakote.
In April and May 2023, 10 soldiers were killed in action in twin attacks in the Rajouri-Poonch region. This region had been largely free of terrorism between 2003 and 2021, after which frequent encounters started happening. Over 35 soldiers have been killed in action during anti-terror operations in the area during 2021 and 2022.
Pertinently, the Home Minister had chaired a similar high-level review meeting on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on January 13 last year and said that all security agencies are fighting a decisive battle against terrorism following the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Minister had also held a review meeting on the security situation of the Union Territory in the national capital on April 13 last year.
