Press Trust of indiaNew Delhi: 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, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday.
During a high-level meeting at the North Block here to review the security situation in the Union Territory in the wake of recent terrorist attacks there, he also directed security agencies to implement area domination and zero-terror plans in the Jammu division like they did in Kashmir to achieve success.
The government is determined to root out terrorism, Shah asserted.
The meeting with top security officials was convened to review the situation in the wake of the attacks in the Union Territory’s Jammu region, officials said.
Home Minister Shah directed the security agencies to work on a mission mode and ensure quick response in a coordinated manner.
He also stressed on seamless coordination among security agencies, identifying vulnerable areas and addressing security concerns in these areas.
Reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he 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, the officials said.
The fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in its decisive phase and the recent incidents show that terrorism has been forced to shrink from highly organised acts of violence to a mere proxy war, the minister said.
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, they said.
Shah presided over the high-level meeting, three days after Prime Minister Modi held a similar meeting where he directed officials to deploy the “full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities” after a spate of terror incidents, including an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district of the Jammu region.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir 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, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police R R Swain and other top security officials attended the meeting.
In a meeting on Friday last, Shah was briefed about the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the deployment of forces along the International Border and the Line of Control, infiltration attempts, the status of ongoing anti-terror operations and the strength of terrorists operating in the Union Territory, sources said.
Terrorists struck at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir within four days last week, killing nine pilgrims and a CRPF jawan and leaving seven security personnel and several others injured.
Two suspected Pakistani terrorists were also killed in an encounter with security forces in Kathua district.
On June 9, terrorists opened fire on a 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra from the Shiv Khori temple. The bus, ferrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire, killing nine people and injuring 41 others.
On June 11, terrorists fired at a joint checkpost of the Rashtriya Rifles and police at Chattergalla in Bhaderwah while a search party in the Gandoh area of Doda district was attacked on June 12, resulting in injuries to seven security personnel, including a policeman.
Prime Minister Modi spoke to the home minister on June 13, and discussed the deployment of security forces and counter-terror operations.
Modi also spoke to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as well and took stock of the situation in the Union Territory.
Sinha briefed him on the efforts being undertaken by the local administration. In the meeting, the prime minister was given a full overview of the security-related situation in the region and was apprised of the counter-terror efforts being undertaken.
The attacks took place ahead of the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Amarnath, located at a height of 3,880 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas, which will begin on June 29 and will continue till August 19. The Amarnath pilgrims travel through two routes — Baltal and Pahalgam — in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said last year over 4.28 lakh people visited the shrine and the figure could go up to five lakh this time.
‘Ensuring smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra is Modi govt’s priority’
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Narendra Modi government’s priority is to ensure the smooth conduct of the Amanath Yatra and that devotees do not face any difficulties during the pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine.
At a meeting convened here to review the preparations for the Yatra, which will begin on June 29 and end on August 19, Shah instructed security agencies to be vigilant and ensure sufficient deployment of personnel for the pilgrimage to the shrine located in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
The meeting was held in the wake of recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed nine lives and injured several.
“Modi government’s priority is to ensure that devotees of the Shri Amarnath Yatra can have a holy darshan with ease and they do not have to face any difficulty,” Shah said at the meeting, held soon after after he reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in another meeting at the North Block.
He also reviewed the security and logistics arrangements for the Yatra.
The home minister instructed officials to ensure perfect inter-agency coordination for effective security arrangements, including a well-established standard operating response mechanism.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the government is committed to ensure a convenient and hassle-free experience for devotees and adopt eco-friendly measures in the management of the Amarnath pilgrimage, he said.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has undertaken significant initiatives to make the Amarnath pilgrimage safe and comfortable for devotees, an official statement said.
Last year more than 4.5 lakh devotees visited the cave shrine located at a height of 3,880 metres.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the pilgrimage, including seamless registration, convoy movement, camping facilities, medical facilities, upgrading tracks, providing power and water supply and mobile-phone connectivity, the statement said.
Pilgrims travel on two tracks — Baltal and Pahalgam — in Jammu and Kashmir to reach the shrine.
All pilgrims are expected to be given RFID cards so that their real-time location can be traced and everyone is likely to be given Rs 5 lakh insurance cover.
The meeting was attended by National Security Adviser AjitDoval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande and Chief of Army Staff (designate) Lt. General Upendra Dwivedi besides others.
