Synopsis
On March 10, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan led a high-level security review meeting in Jammu, focusing on the security landscape of J&K amidst rising concerns over recent terrorist activities and the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.Key Takeaways
- Urgent need for enhanced security during the Amarnath Yatra.
- Concerns over the presence of terrorists in Jammu's upper regions.
- Recent civilian killings raise alarms about local security.
- Collaboration among various security forces is crucial.
- Ongoing assessments by Union officials to ensure public safety.
Jammu, March 10 (NationPress) The Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan presided over a significant security review meeting on J&K this Sunday, which included senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), paramilitary forces, the J&K Police, and intelligence representatives from the Union Territory.
During the meeting, both central and UT intelligence agencies, along with leaders from CRPF, BSF, and the J&K Police, provided briefings on the current security situation in the UT.
According to sources, the primary focus of the security review was on three key issues: ensuring the security of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra set to commence on July 1, safeguarding the Kashmir to Kanyakumari railway services, which are expected to start soon, and assessing the ongoing security status in the Jammu region.
The timing of this security review meeting was expedited following the discovery of the bodies of three civilians from Kathua district, who had been killed by terrorists. Their remains were found in the elevated areas of Billawar tehsil.
The victims included Yogesh, 32, Darshan, 49, and a 14-year-old boy named Varun. They had gone missing while attending a wedding party on Thursday, with their families reporting their absence the next day. Security forces located their bodies on Saturday using drones.
The Union Home Secretary conducted two sessions of the meeting at the convention center in Jammu, where he also reviewed the security conditions with all 20 district SSPs in one of the sessions.
Attendees included officials from IB, CRPF, BSF, along with MHA representatives overseeing J&K, the J&K chief secretary, the J&K home secretary, DGP, ADG CID, and IGPs for both Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
Sources indicated that the Home Secretary expressed serious concerns regarding the presence of terrorists in higher altitudes of the Jammu division, where they should have been neutralized during winter due to harsh weather conditions but are reportedly still operational.
Another point of discussion highlighted that many of the terrorists in the upper regions are believed to be Pakistanis, and their survival in extreme winter conditions is likely dependent on local support.
Officials were informed that the MHA is particularly worried about reports of terrorist activity in the elevated areas of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch districts, emphasizing the need for action.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed terrorist involvement in the civilian killings. In a post on X, he stated, "The tragic killing of three youths by terrorists in the Bani area of Kathua is deeply saddening and concerning. There appears to be a conspiracy aimed at disrupting the peace in this area."
Dr. Singh further noted, "We have engaged with the relevant officials. The Union Home Secretary is personally coming to Jammu to assess the situation on-site. I am confident that such incidents will not recur and that public trust will remain strong."
It is worth mentioning that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted three reviews of the J&K security situation in February, while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also led two consecutive security review meetings, one in Srinagar and another in Jammu last month.
