Srinagar: Top officers of army, police and civil administration on Monday held a meeting to discuss the security measures to be put in place on the first anniversary of the revocation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The core group meeting was co-chaired by General Officer Commanding, Chinar Corps, Lt Gen BS Raju and Director General of Police Jammu & Kashmir, Dilbag Singh to review the security situation and ensure readiness to meet anticipated security challenges, an army spokesperson said in a handout issued this evening. Officials of civil administration, intelligence agencies and besides Divisional Commissioner also attended the meeting.
“The Core Group reviewed the security situation in Kashmir and the progress on handling the COVID challenges facing the UT. Special emphasis was given to ensure extensive security for the upcoming one year anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 including discussions on administrative measures,” the army spokesperson said.
He said the meeting also discussed recent increased infiltration attempts and CFVs along the LoC while the defence officials shared that the surveillance grid and counter infiltration grid in sensitive areas has been reinforced, which has led to early detection and foiling of infiltration attempts in last few weeks.
The army spokesperson further said that the reports indicate that the launch pads in PcK were full and Pakistan establishment was keen to push in infiltrators in next few weeks.
“The forces are ready for any border misadventure in form of BAT actions or actions to support infiltration. The core group discussed the need for continued intelligence based anti-terror operations with a humane touch,” he said.
He added that to address the complete eco-system of militant organisations, the efforts to identify and arrest over ground workers who sustain the militant organisations will continue with vigour.
“Review of security indicators show that violence level has dropped in last one year. Intelligence inputs indicate desperation in Pakistani establishment and separatists to generate violence and civil casualties in the valley,” the army spokesperson said.
“The Security Forces have to be wary of attacks on political workers, attacks on soldiers on leave, IED attacks and attacks on isolated posts or patrols. Concurrently law and order including COVID restrictions need to be enforced for safety of the common man,” he added.
The officials, he said also discussed local recruitment which though lower than last year had seen a spurt in last few weeks, it was decided to enhance steps to prevent local youth from joining militant outfits.
“Steps would include proactive steps in consultation with families of vulnerable youth, and identification and arrest of instigators,” the army spokesperson said.
He said that the officials deliberated on the ‘propaganda effort' by Pakistan and cautioned against the efforts to instigate violence in the UT.
“All efforts to instigate violence by the ANEs have to be proactively handled by good surveillance and policing action,” he added.
The Divisional Commissioner, the army spokesperson said brought out the efforts of the administration to meet the COVID challenges.
“He also informed the gathering of the efforts to speed up developmental activities in last few months which has resulted in completion of 14000 projects which were languishing for 3 to 5 years,” the army spokesperson said.
In the end, the army spokesperson said that the senior commanders expressed satisfaction at the successful handling of the security situation and asked for continued efforts to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
