Jammu, Jan 14: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, joined by Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) Tapan Deka, on Wednesday reviewed the prevailing security scenario across the Union Territory, with major emphasis on Counter Terror (CT) Operations targetting terrorists, terror infrastructure, and the developments along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).
Union Home Secretary and Director IB, along with other senior central officials, had reached Jammu late afternoon on January 14 for a two-day security assessment visit.
Sources pointed out that the visiting central team of top officials, immediately after its arrival, held a high-level review at the Convention Centre Jammu, which continued till late evening.
Evaluating security arrangements in place, especially for Republic Day celebrations and challenging weather conditions, the emphasis of top central officials during the meeting, in line with the directions of the Union Home Minister, was on “bolstering the anti-infiltration grid with a perfect synergised approach among all security agencies.”
At the outset, the visiting team was apprised of the prevailing security scenario and operations being conducted in different parts of the UT, mainly the Jammu region, which is witnessing heightened activities from across the border.
In the backdrop of increased attempts by Pakistan-based handlers to push terrorists and arms through drone activity and infiltration routes, taking advantage of inclement weather conditions, particularly dense fog, all the security agencies were asked to remain alert and continue to work in synergy to eliminate terrorists hiding in the mountainous areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Kathua, and Reasi.
“Unrelenting synergised operations by security forces, not letting their guard down at any point in time, should be the key approach during intensified anti-terror operations, leaving no scope for regrouping of terrorists or any terror act, was the bottom line. The alacrity of the civil administration, in tandem with the security agencies, was also emphasised. Another important aspect related to the fortification of the anti-infiltration grid with heightened surveillance using advanced technology, besides vigilance by the foot soldiers and strengthening of human intel and the Village Defence Guards (VDGs),” sources added.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Home, J&K Chandraker Bharti, BSF Director General Praveen Kumar, CRPF chief G P Singh and Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat, J&K Intelligence chief Nitish Kumar besides other senior Army, Police, civil, and intelligence officers.
The visit, amid heightened security alert ahead of Republic Day celebrations, assumes significance as the border districts of Jammu region in the recent past have witnessed a spurt in drone-incursion incidents from across the border, besides frequent sightings of terrorists or armed suspects, amid dense fog.
Security forces even established multiple contacts with the terrorists in dense forests and treacherous heights of Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, and Udhampur in the past month or so.
Even on Wednesday, January 14, Cordon and Search Operations were underway in Najote and adjoining villages in Billawar and Jakhole Baira and adjacent areas in Raj Bagh of Kathua district. In Jakhole, CASO was launched after the local inputs about the suspicious movement of two suspects.
The central team, besides holding further discussions aiming at bolstering synergy among different security agencies working on the ground, is likely to visit the International Border before leaving for the union capital on June 15 afternoon.
Earlier on January 8, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, had chaired a security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi.
Reiterating the zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, Shah stated that Counter Terror (CT) Operations targeting terrorist infrastructure and terror financing in a mission mode should be continued.
He had directed all security agencies to remain alert and continue to work in synergy to ensure that the gains achieved after the abrogation of Article 370 were sustained to achieve the goal of ‘terror-free J&K’ at the earliest. He assured that all the resources would be made available in this endeavour.
