Union Home Minister Amit Shah will closely examine the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday following a surge in terrorist attacks, sources revealed. Shah is anticipated to provide comprehensive directives to enhance counter-terror operations. Additionally, he will review preparations for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage slated to begin on June 29.
This high-priority meeting will occur three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s similar security review, where the PM instructed officials to employ “the full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities” following recent terror incidents, including an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims.
Attending the meeting will be an array of top security officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Army Chief-designate Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Director General of CRPF Anish Dayal Singh, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police R. R. Swain, and others.
Sources indicated that Shah will receive detailed briefings on several aspects: the current security status in Jammu and Kashmir, deployment of forces along the International Border and Line of Control, infiltration attempts, ongoing anti-terror operations, and the estimated number of terrorists in the region. Shah is expected to provide comprehensive guidelines for immediate actions in line with the prime minister’s directives.
Over the past four days, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed terror strikes at four locations in the districts of Reasi, Kathua, and Doda. These incidents resulted in the deaths of nine pilgrims and a CRPF jawan, with seven security personnel and several others injured. Additionally, two suspected Pakistani terrorists were killed in an encounter in Kathua district, leading to the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition.
These incidents have heightened concerns as the Amarnath Yatra approaches, a pilgrimage that sees devotees traversing routes from Baltal and Pahalgam to the cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas. Last year saw over 4.28 lakh pilgrims, and the number is expected to reach five lakh this year. Measures including RFID cards for pilgrims to enable real-time location tracking, Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for each pilgrim, and Rs 50,000 insurance for animals are part of the enhanced security protocol.
During his review, Shah is expected to emphasize smooth arrangements from the airport and railway station to the pilgrimage base camp.
. This includes ensuring the security of all pilgrims. Last year’s directives from Shah included ensuring an adequate stock of oxygen cylinders, additional teams of doctors, sufficient medical beds, and the availability of ambulances and helicopters for medical emergencies. Following these orders, a better communication system along the pilgrimage routes was put in place, including machinery to promptly clear routes in the event of landslides.
On Friday, Shah was briefed by officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Intelligence Bureau, and other security agencies about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the countermeasures implemented after recent terror incidents. Earlier, on June 13, Prime Minister Modi had a discussion with Shah regarding security deployments and counter-terror operations, also holding conversations with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to assess the local administration’s efforts.
A proactive approach continues, with security forces launching extensive search and cordon operations in several areas including Kathua’s Saida Sukhal village and other regions following terror incidents. Notably, two suspected Pakistani terrorists and a CRPF jawan were killed in Kathua’s Saida Sukhal village after an intense 15-hour operation.
Further, sketches of four terrorists involved in attacks in Doda district have been released, with a Rs 20 lakh reward announced for information leading to their capture. In Reasi district, following the attack on the pilgrim bus, 50 individuals have been detained, and search operations have expanded into remote areas.
An advisory has been issued by the police urging vigilance among residents regarding suspicious activities and objects, based on intelligence indicating a potential terror threat in the Rajouri and Jammu districts. Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar has directed the security forces to bolster existing security structures, improve surveillance tactics, and enhance personnel deployment along the Amarnath pilgrimage routes. Anti-sabotage teams are also being deployed to neutralize any potential threats along the route.
Specialized forces like the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment might be utilized to map vulnerable points on the pilgrimage route for regular monitoring and improved safety measures. Ensuring the security of thousands of pilgrims and the successful conduct of the Amarnath Yatra remains a top priority in the face of escalating threats.
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