Amit Shah Reviews Jammu and Kashmir Security Amid Rising Terror Incidents

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting on June 16 at North Block, New Delhi, to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir following recent terror incidents. The meeting also covered preparations for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which is set to begin on June 29.

During the meeting, Shah directed security agencies to implement the successful Area Domination Plan and Zero-Terror Plan from the Kashmir Valley in the Jammu division. He emphasized the Modi Government's commitment to innovative strategies for cracking down on terrorists in the region.

Attendees included National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, senior army officers including Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande and his designate General Upendra Dwivedi, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, DG of CRPF Anish Dayal Singh, DG of BSF Nitin Agarwal, and Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police R.R. Swain.

Sources indicated that Shah received a comprehensive briefing on the security landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, with an expectation of intensified counter-terror operations. This meeting followed a similar one held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi three days earlier, where he urged the deployment of the "full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities" following a spate of terror incidents.

On June 14, Shah had been briefed about the situation, including force deployment along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC), infiltration attempts, ongoing anti-terror operations, and terrorist strengths in the Union Territory.

The recent attacks in Reasi, Kathua, and Doda districts resulted in the deaths of nine pilgrims and a CRPF jawan, with injuries to seven security personnel and several others. Two suspected Pakistani terrorists were killed in an encounter in Kathua district. On June 9, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, resulting in the bus plunging into a gorge, killing nine and injuring 41 others. Additional attacks on security forces occurred on June 11 and June 12.

On June 13, PM Modi discussed the security deployment and counter-terror operations with Shah and J&K Lt. Governor Sinha, who briefed him on local administrative efforts.

The Amarnath pilgrimage, beginning June 29, will see pilgrims traveling through the Baltal and Pahalgam routes in Jammu and Kashmir. Last year, over 4.28 lakh people visited the shrine, with expectations of up to five lakh this year. All pilgrims will receive RFID cards for real-time tracking and a ₹5 lakh insurance cover. Each animal carrying pilgrims will also have a ₹50,000 insurance cover. Shah has stressed ensuring smooth arrangements and proper security from the airport and railway station to the pilgrimage base camp.