Union Home Secretary Visits J&K for Security Assessment
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Synopsis
On March 9, the Union Home Secretary will visit Jammu and Kashmir to review security measures with paramilitary, police, and intelligence leaders amid concerns about terrorist activity in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Union Home Secretary's first review meeting in J&K.
- Focus on enhancing security in Jammu division.
- Presence of terrorists in higher reaches remains a concern.
- Collaboration among Army, police, and paramilitary forces expected.
- Meeting to be held at Jammu Convention Centre.
Jammu, March 9 (NationPress) The Union Home Secretary is set to visit Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday to assess the security situation in the region alongside the leaders of paramilitary forces, police, and central as well as union territory intelligence agencies.
This marks Govind Mohan’s inaugural security evaluation meeting in Jammu and Kashmir as the Union Home Secretary. The Director General of the Border Security Force, Daljit Singh Chaudhary, arrived on Saturday and toured the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district to receive updates on the operational readiness of the stationed BSF personnel.
High-ranking officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responsible for J&K will participate in the meeting.
The discussions will unfold in two segments, with police leaders from all 20 districts of the Union Territory expected to join one of the sessions.
Sources indicate that while the meeting aims to evaluate the overall security in J&K, there will be a particular emphasis on strategies to eradicate terrorism in the Jammu division.
It has been reported that the Government of India (GOI) is apprehensive about the existence of terrorists in the remote areas of the Jammu division, who should have been neutralized during the winter season but remain active.
“As many of these terrorists are thought to be of Pakistani origin, their survival in severe winter conditions would be unsustainable without some level of local assistance.
“The MHA has expressed concern regarding reports of terrorist activity in the elevated regions of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch districts. A collaborative strategy is expected to be developed involving the Army, paramilitary forces, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to neutralize these threats. The precise number of terrorists remains unclear, but they are said to operate in small groups of three to four”, sources noted.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has conducted three security reviews for J&K this year, specifically on February 4, 5, and 11.
Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has also led two consecutive security review meetings this year, one in Srinagar and another in Jammu.
J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, state Home Secretary Chandraker Bharti, DGP Nalin Prabhat, Additional DG CID Nitish Kumar, IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi, along with senior officials from BSF, CRPF, and intelligence agencies, will be present at the meeting.
The discussions are scheduled to be held at the Jammu Convention Centre.
