In the wake of the recent terror incidents, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Nine people were killed and over 40 were injured last week when terrorists opened fire at a bus carrying pilgrims.
Shah called for a high-level meeting on June 16, which will be attended by senior officials including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha. Top officials of the Army, CRPF and others will also review the prevailing situation in the Union Territory. The steps taken to check terror incidents in the region will also be assessed and reviewed in the meeting.
The HM will also take stock of the preparedness for the annual Amarnath Yatra, which will begin on June 29 during the Sunday meeting.
The review meeting is being held at a time when the terrorists had attacked four places in the Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir over the past four days. The attacks had claimed the lives of nine pilgrims and had injured over seven security personnel.
Also, two suspected Pakistani terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kathua district. A large quantity of arms and ammunition, including an M4 Rifle, an AK assault rifle, a satellite phone and more than Rs 2.10 lakh, were recovered from them as well. One of the terrorists is believed to be a top commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit.
The latest terrorist attack occurred on Sunday (June 9) when 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, carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire. The bus driver and the conductor were among those who lost their lives.
On Tuesday, 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 Wednesday, resulting in injuries to seven security personnel, including police personnel.
According to officials, the search operation launched in Jammu and Kashmir to track down and neutralise terrorists after the bus attack is underway. Security forces launched a new search and cordon operation in Kathua's Saida Sukhal village on Thursday following the information about the presence of two more terrorists.
Police had also released sketches of four terrorists involved in the attacks in Doda district and announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any information regarding them.
An advisory was also issued by the police, urging the residents of the Jammu region to stay vigilant regarding the movement of suspicious individuals and objects.
Meanwhile, police in Jammu and Kashmir have started preparation for the two-month-long Amarnath yatra. As part of the preparations, Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar directed the security forces to fortify the existing security infrastructure, improve surveillance tactics and bolster personnel deployment along the route.
A joint meeting with the officers of the police, Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other agencies were also held by Kumar to arrange the overall security.
(With PTI inputs)
