Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 30: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will hold high level review of operational preparedness of security agencies against the militancy, which has recently shown surge, in Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar as he undertakes two-day visit to the Valley from tomorrow during which he will also fly to holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji in South Kashmir for on spot assessment of security situation and other arrangements made for the annual pilgrimage.
Rajnath’s two-day visit to Kashmir comes close on the heels of preliminary report submitted by a three-member high level team of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), deputed by him to the Valley, for on-spot assessment of the situation in the wake of Pampore attack of June 25 in which eight CRPF personnel were killed and reports about surge in infiltration, which could lead to more militant attacks.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Rajnath Singh will be reaching Srinagar tomorrow afternoon and would preside over a meeting of top officials of Army, BSF, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, civil administration, Intelligence agencies and other security forces, who were operating in Jammu and Kashmir. All security agencies, which formed part of the Unified Headquarters, will attend the meeting.
He will also have meetings with Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh. His meeting with Governor NN Vohra would be over dinner at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar tomorrow.
Sources said the Union Home Minister will review security situation in Jammu and Kashmir including increase in infiltration and attacks on para-military and police personnel, especially in South Kashmir and steps required to contain intrusions by the militants and maintain internal security including check on militant attacks and law and order situation.
“The spurt in militant attack and infiltration and comprehensive review of Shri Amarnath ji yatra arrangements, starting on July 1 from Jammu and July 2 from base camps of Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) were main itineraries of the Home Minister, who decided to personally review the situation on the basis of preliminary report given to him by high level MHA team of three members, which was camping in the Valley for past three days,” sources said.
The MHA team comprises Susheel Kumar, Secretary (Border Management), Mahesh Kumar Singla, Special Secretary (Internal Security) and Gyanesh Kumar, Joint Secretary (Kashmir). They had reached Srinagar from New Delhi on June 28.
Rajnath will on July 2 fly to holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji, the day yatra starts, and will assess security arrangements along both tracks including traditional track from Nunwan and shorter route of Baltal and holy cave shrine of Amarnath ji, located at the height of 18,445 feet from sea level, in South Kashmir.
He will review security measures and other arrangements for the pilgrims at Amarnath ji cave and track with Governor NN Vohra, who happens to be Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and will accompany the Union Home Minister to the holy cave shrine. Top officers of multi-security agencies, whose jawans were deployed at Shri Amarnath ji cave, twin tracks, base camps of Nunwan and Baltal, Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu and two National Highways of Pathankot-Jammu and Jammu-Srinagar.
Annual Amarnath ji pilgrimage is starting on July 1 from Jammu and July 2 from Nunwan and Baltal. It will continue till August 18 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
The Union Home Minister will return to New Delhi in the afternoon of July 2.
Sources said the Home Minister’s visit comes in the wake of “disturbing reports” about infiltration of 30 to 32 militants from the LoC though some reports put the number as high as 60, increase in attacks on para-military personnel in the Valley especially South Kashmir as Nunwan, Pahalgam, the base camp of Amarnath ji shrine, also falls in the same belt.
Meanwhile, Susheel Kumar, Secretary (Border Management), Union Home Ministry, who was part of three-member team of the MHA, which was camping in the Valley for past three days on the directions of Rajnath Singh to review security situation, suggest measures for preventing Pampore like attacks in future, have re-look at Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and measures required to curb infiltration, today called on Governor NN Vohra in Srinagar.
Kumar briefed the Governor about his meetings and discussions with the State Government, heads of security forces in J&K about certain important issues related to border management, infiltration and internal security.
The team has submitted its preliminary report to the Union Home Ministry suggesting measures to check militant attacks on para-military convoys including use of Bullet-Proof vehicles in vulnerable areas and strictly adhering to the SOP. It has pointed out “some gaps” that could have minimized casualties of CRPF in June 25 attack at Pampore in which eight CRPF personnel were killed and 20 others injured.
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