Reviews UT’s security situation, says Govt will continue with zero tolerance for terror
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on Tuesday that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance approach against terrorism, emphasizing the adherence to all due procedures during counter-terror operations.
He made these remarks while chairing a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir. During the meeting, the Home Minister reviewed the functioning of the security grid and various aspects related to security.
The Home Minister also focused on complete area domination and better coordination among the Police, Army, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.
The review meeting, which comes after recent attacks in the Union Territory, was attended by National Security Advisor AjitDoval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary, Chief of Army Staff, Director (IB), Heads of CAPFs, Chief Secretary & DGP of UT of Jammu and Kashmir, held in New Delhi.
On the occasion, the Home Minister also stressed the need to boost and strengthen local intelligence in the Union Territory.
During the meeting, Shah reviewed the area domination plan of security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir to eliminate the threat of terrorism.
While evaluating the functioning of the security grid and the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah instructed the strengthening of counter-terrorism operations and the need for the complete elimination of the terror eco-system.
He also advised security agencies for appropriate deployment in vulnerable areas, reiterating that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance approach against terrorism.
The meeting was held days after four soldiers were killed and three injured following an encounter that started after terrorists fired at two army vehicles passing through Dera Ki Gali in Rajouri’sPoonch region at around 3.45 pm on December 21 last year.
The Union Home Minister stressed that all due procedures should be adopted while dealing with counter-terror operations. He appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and the administration of the Union Territory for the significant decline in terror-related incidents, infiltration, and improvement in the law & order situation.
In November last year, five soldiers, including two Captains, were also killed in action after the Army and its special forces launched an anti-terror operation in Rajouri’s Kalakote.
In April and May 2023, ten soldiers were killed in action in twin attacks in the Rajouri-Poonch region.
This region had been largely free of terrorism between 2003 and 2021, after which frequent encounters started happening. Over 35 soldiers have been killed in action during anti-terror operations in the area during 2021 and 2022.
Pir Panjal, which also comprises Rajouri district besides Poonch and parts of Reasi districts, has witnessed a spike in militancy in recent years, with several Army soldiers losing their lives after being ambushed by militants in the region, said sources in the security wing.
The Home Minister had chaired a similar high-level review meeting on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on January 13 last year and said that all security agencies are fighting a decisive battle against terrorism following the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He had also said that a 360-degree security mechanism would be further strengthened to completely eliminate the support and information systems of terrorists. The Minister had also held a review meeting on the security situation of the Union Territory in the national capital on April 13 last year, wherein he reviewed the functioning of the security grid and various aspects related to security and reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the government of India is committed towards zero tolerance against terrorism.
