Vikrant Shekhawat : Jun 16, 2024, 06:50 PM
Jammu-Kashmir News: 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 the 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 the Jammu region and not allow it to flourish again at any cost", while also stressing on full security cover for the yatra. The meeting was held in New Delhi, attended by Army Chief General Manoj Pandey, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, IB Director Tapan Deka, CRPF DG Aneesh Dayal Singh, sources said.Manoj Sinha and others attended the meetingFrom Jammu and Kashmir, LG Sinha, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP RR Swain, Vijay Kumar, ADGP (L&O), senior military officials of Jammu and Kashmir and intelligence officials attended the meeting. 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 increase in terrorist attacks. He said, "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 the elements supporting them." "The Home Minister expressed concern over the attack on Shiv Kohri pilgrims and called for coordinated efforts to protect the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi, Shiv Kohri and other shrines.Security forces got this instructionHe directed security officials to keep a strict vigil on highways and sensitive points to protect the movement of security forces and pilgrims." He said that the elements supporting the terrorists in Jammu should be "taken to task 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. "They also stressed on closing down the points from where foreign terrorists have managed to sneak in on this side," sources said. The home minister also called for putting in place a "multi-layered security cover" for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra and emphasised that "every single yatri must be protected and the pilgrimage must be conducted in a safe security environment," sources said.Amit Shah stresses on securityThey said the home minister also emphasised on the need to secure the yatra routes up to the base camps. The annual yatra will begin on June 29 and end on August 19. The meeting also discussed security planning for all tourist sites and landmarks in Kashmir and Jammu and 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 praised the security agencies for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which saw record participation of people. It may be said that today's meeting comes 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.