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Home Minister Amit Shah convened a security review meeting in New Delhi following a series of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Intelligence Bureau.
The review focused on the prevailing security scenario in Jammu, along the Line of Control (LOC), and the international border. The status of ongoing combing operations to apprehend terrorists and measures to identify their local support networks were also discussed.
Shah emphasized the need for foolproof security arrangements and directed that a detailed meeting be held on June 16th. This meeting will be attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and senior officers from various security agencies.
Shah is expected to issue specific instructions on addressing the security situation, particularly in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directives to deploy the full spectrum of counterterrorism capabilities.
The meeting will also consider the deployment of additional paramilitary forces to the affected districts of Rajouri, Kathua, Samba, Jammu, and Poonch.
Currently, there are approximately 70 battalions of central paramilitary forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to handle insurgency and law-and-order issues.
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indian Army are responsible for securing the border areas. Along the 3,323-km land border with Pakistan, there are 675 border outposts (BOPs), with plans to establish an additional 736 BOPs by June 2025.
The government has also approved the construction of a 2097.646 km fence along the border, of which 2064.666 km has been completed.
Intelligence agencies have reported an increase in infiltration attempts from Pakistan in recent weeks, with proxy outfits of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) being involved.
Data indicates a significant decline in overall infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir since 2017, with zero incidents reported in 2023 until June.
To counter cross-border infiltration, efforts are being made to strengthen border infrastructure, enhance surveillance and patrolling, and deploy advanced technological equipment.
Four recent terror attacks in Reasi, Kathua, and Doda districts have targeted civilians and security forces, involving highly trained foreign terrorists from Pakistan.
In one attack, three to four militants attacked a joint check post in Doda's Chattargala area, resulting in injuries to five army personnel and a special police officer.
A second attack in Kota Top area targeted a police team, injuring a head constable.
A gunbattle in Kathua left one CRPF jawan dead, six security personnel and one civilian injured, with two terrorists neutralized.
These attacks follow an earlier incident in Reasi, where armed terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims, causing it to plunge into a gorge and killing nine people.
Source: Home minister Amit Shah reviews security in J&K after terror attacks