PM Modi-led Govt committed to attain goal of terror-free J&K: Home Minister

Jammu, Feb 6: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah on Friday reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Modi government to attain the goal of terror-free Jammu and Kashmir.

He stated it while chairing a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir at Lok Bhavan in Jammu.

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Secretary, Director (IB), Chief of Army Staff, Chief Secretary and Director General Police of Jammu and Kashmir, Heads of CAPFs and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

The Union Home Minister, who reached Jammu on February 5 on a 3-day J&K visit, appreciated the efforts of the security agencies in dismantling the terror eco-system in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said, ìThe terror eco-system nurtured by elements inimical to our country in J&K has been almost crippled due to the concerted efforts of the Modi Government.î

Innovative measures to further reinforce the watertight security cordon were also discussed in the meeting.

The Union Home Minister said, ìThe efforts for de-radicalisation have seen major success in accelerating our vision for a terror-free J&K.î

He instructed for taking more steps for youth engagement. HM Shah also stressed that major initiatives to build up the start-up ecosystem, sports sector etc., needed to be taken to ensure youths were engaged in income generating activities.

He directed all security agencies to remain alert and continue work in a coordinated mode to ensure that the gains achieved in recent times were sustained and the goal of ëterror free J&Kí was achieved at the earliest.

Shah assured that all the resources would be made available in this endeavour.

On the third day of his visit, he will chair a meeting on development of Jammu and Kashmir, which will also be participated by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah besides others, at Lok Bhavan, Jammu at 10.30 am before departing for the union capital in the afternoon.

Notably the visit of the Union Home Minister is very significant as presently intensified counter terrorist operations are underway in Udhampur, Kishtwar, Billawar, besides search operations in the border areas of Jammu region, both the LoC and the International Border, amid frequent sightings of suspects.

On the eve of his Jammu visit, three terrorists were killed in two separate raging encounters in Udhampur and in Kishtwar districts on February 4. Operations were still underway.

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohanís two-day crucial J&K security review visit on January 14 and 15 preceded HM Shah’s visit.

Govind Mohan had visited J&K within a week after the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, while chairing a security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi January 8, had directed all security agencies to remain alert and continue to work in synergy to ensure that the gains achieved after abrogation of Article 370 were sustained to achieve the goal of ëterror free J&Kí at the earliest.

During his visit, Govind Mohan, in a string of security meetings in Jammu, had assessed operational preparedness and the desired steps to further bolster security grid so as to make it invincible to continue pressure on the adversary and offer no elbow room to terrorists hiding in the mountainous areas of the region.

He was understood to have reiterated his directions for bolstering the anti-infiltration grid amid challenging conditions with a perfect synergised approach among all security agencies.

In alignment with the directions of the Home Minister, during meetings, major emphasis was on Counter Terror (CT) Operations targetting terrorists, terror infrastructure and the developments along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).