Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Thursday, 13 August chaired a hybrid operational review meeting with senior officers of J&K Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in Srinagar, as security across the union territory remains on high alert ahead of Independence Day celebrations. The meeting assessed counter-infiltration measures, area domination, intelligence sharing, and operational preparedness across the region.

What the Meeting Covered

Senior officers from various ranges, districts, and wings of J&K Police joined the review both in person and virtually, alongside senior CAPF representatives. Discussions centred on strengthening coordination between the two forces, proactive policing strategies, and measures to ensure public safety ahead of upcoming events, according to officials.

DGP Prabhat stressed the need for sustained high alertness and better inter-force coordination to pre-empt any attempts to disturb peace. The meeting also provided an opportunity to assess ongoing security requirements across different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Security Backdrop: Recent Terror Incidents

The review comes against a backdrop of heightened tension following a series of targeted attacks. On 31 July, police head constable Ashiq Qureshi was shot dead in broad daylight by terrorists in Anantnag town while deployed on Yatra duty. Days later, two non-local labourers — identified as Deepak and Bopinder, both in their 20s and from Chhattisgarh — were killed at close range by terrorists in Kellam village of Kulgam district, where they worked at a brick kiln.

These incidents have prompted a territory-wide security alert and intensified coordination between police and paramilitary forces.

Independence Day Security Arrangements

Security has been significantly reinforced ahead of 15 August celebrations, with a large public turnout expected at official functions. The main parade and flag-hoisting ceremony will be held at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will preside over the event.

A full-dress rehearsal was conducted at Bakshi Stadium earlier on Thursday, with Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg taking the salute. Security agencies are coordinating to ensure all parades, flag-hoisting ceremonies, and cultural programmes across the union territory pass off without incident.

Significance of the Operational Review

Hybrid operational reviews of this nature serve as regular security synchronisation exercises, enabling command-level officers to align on real-time ground intelligence, operational gaps, and force deployment. This meeting is the latest in a series of such reviews that have become more frequent following the recent uptick in targeted violence in the Kashmir Valley. Notably, the back-to-back killings of a uniformed officer and migrant labourers signal a deliberate pattern that security planners are working to disrupt ahead of a nationally significant date.