Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 17: Amidst increased number of encounters and infiltration attempts coupled with other undesirable incidents, the Union Home Ministry deliberated upon the situation in New Delhi with a view to further strengthen Security Grid in Jammu and Kashmir and taking all possible measures to maintain law and order.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the MHA held comprehensive review of security situation in various parts the country including Jammu and Kashmir, the threat perceptions from across the borders especially in the summer, spurt in encounters, which was albeit a healthy sign as a number of militants have been killed in them and recent incidents.
Top brass of the MHA especially those associated with the Internal Security and officials from the premier Intelligence agencies deliberated on the series of aspects to keep security situation under control though there were reports from the Intelligence sleuths about possible terror attack on 15 small islands of the country.
Disclosing that latest security situation in Jammu and Kashmir came up for very high level review, sources pointed out that the MHA was satisfied with outcome of recent encounters as seven militants have been killed and two others arrested in four encounters during past one week in the State. Four militants were killed and two others arrested yesterday in Tanghdar and Srinagar respectively while two militants were killed today in Sopore. On June 13, a militant was killed in Kud.
According to sources, the activities of the militants across the border, who were planning large scale infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir and terror attacks in other parts of the country came up for detailed review and strengthening security on all routes, which the militants could take for infiltration into the country including J&K.
According to sources, entire gamut of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, was reviewed during the meeting. The MHA has already decided that it would be deputing a high level team to the State for reviewing security situation in the State ahead of annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath ji shrine, starting July 2, which will continue till August 18. This was second security review of the M HA on J&K during past about 10 days.
Sources said the Intelligence officials gave detailed presentation of security situation in the meeting and steps required to keep it under complete control as has been done during the past two years.
The MHA top brass stressed for maintenance of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) during all search operations and called upon the troops to show zero tolerance towards infiltration and other militant activities.
Sources pointed out that a sudden spurt has been noticed in the incidents of infiltration by the terrorists from across the border in the first half of this year with as many as 50 attempts being recorded compared to very less during the same period last year.
The three-tier counter-terror grid, put in place by the Indian Army, has thwarted 24 infiltration bids, during which 64 terrorists were neutralized, sources said.
During the counter infiltration operations, the Army has lost 11 soldiers, the sources said, adding that 28 personnel were injured.
The 50-fold increase in the number of infiltration attempts is being attributed to early melting of snow at higher peaks this year. In 26 cases, infiltrating ultras managed to sneak past the anti-terror grid.
In the first six months of last year, 32 terrorists were killed in 20 incidents of terrorism with no infiltration being recorded in the same period.
Sources said five islands each of Gujarat and Lakshdweep, three in West Bengal, five in Andaman and Nicobar and one each at Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were also identified for stepping-up security in view of the Intelligence reports.
Prominent among those, who attended the meeting included Special Secretary (Internal Security) Mahesh Kumar Singla, Secretary Border Management Susheel Kumar, Joint Secretary (Jammu and Kashmir) Ganesh Kumar, RAW chief Rajinder Khanna and Intelligence Bureau head Dineshwar Sharma.
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