Amit Shah instructs officials to strengthen counter-terror operations in JK

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in the national capital on Tuesday and discussed the law and order situation and issues like security grid and zero terror plan.

New Delhi:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday instructed the security agencies to strengthen the counter-terrorism operations for the complete elimination of the terror eco-system in Jammu and Kashmir.

While chairing a crucial security review meeting on the Jammu and Kashmir security situation at North Block in New Delhi, Shah also advised the security agencies for appropriate deployment in vulnerable areas. He also reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance approach against terrorism.

Shah reviewed the area domination plan of security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir to eliminate the threat of terrorism, while reviewing the functioning of the security grid and overall security scenario of Jammu and Kashmir.

However, he stressed all due procedures should be adopted while dealing with counter-terror operations. Shah underlined the importance of further strengthening the local intelligence network. The Union Home Minister appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and administration of the Union Territory for a significant decline in terror-related incidents, infiltration and improvement in law & order situation.

The security review meeting took place in the wake of the recent terror attack in J&K. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary, Chief of Army Staff, Director (IB), Heads of CAPFs, Chief Secretary & DGP, UT of Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had announced compensation and jobs to the families of the dead civilians and said legal action on the matter has been initiated. Sporadic violence continued in Jammu and Kashmir since the beginning of 2023.

Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a series of encounters last year that left 54 persons, including 28 terrorists and 19 security personnel, dead, officials said. The officials have ascribed the uptick in violence to "desperate attempts from across the border" to revive terrorism in the region.

While 31 persons, including 10 terrorists and 14 security personnel, were killed in Rajouri, 15 terrorists and five security personnel were killed in Poonch district. Three terrorists were killed in the Reasi district. Most of the terrorists were killed while attempting to sneak into this side of the border, the officials said.

In May last year, five Army personnel were killed and a major-rank officer was injured in Chamrer forest during an anti-terrorist operation. A foreign terrorist was also killed in the operation.

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