J&K: HM Amit Shah Directs Strengthening Of Counter-Terrorism Ops In Security Meet After Poonch Attack

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where five soldiers were killed by terrorists in an ambush in Poonch district a fortnight ago.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a high-level meeting with Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a meeting on Tuesday to assess the security landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, an official statement said. This comes in the wake of an attack in Poonch district two weeks prior, where terrorists killed five soldiers.

Following the December 21 terror incident, three civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were discovered dead after reportedly being taken into custody by the Army for questioning. This sparked widespread condemnation. In response, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General Manoj Pande visited Poonch to evaluate the situation.

Key attendees at the meeting included Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, and senior officials from intelligence and security agencies.

#WATCH | NSA Ajit Doval leaves from Home Ministry after attending a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/vDaBKHVWya

— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2024

An official statement noted, "The Home Minister received an overview of the current security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir".

Earlier measures from the Jammu and Kashmir administration included providing compensation and employment opportunities for the families of the deceased civilians. They have also initiated legal proceedings concerning the matter.

An official statement noted, "The Home Minister received an overview of the current security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir."

Earlier measures from the Jammu and Kashmir administration included providing compensation and employment opportunities for the families of the deceased civilians. They have also initiated legal proceedings concerning the matter.

Throughout 2023, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed intermittent violence. Last year, districts like Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi were the epicentres of multiple encounters. Official figures indicate that these skirmishes resulted in 54 fatalities, including 28 terrorists and 19 security personnel.

Authorities attribute this surge in violence to relentless efforts from external entities attempting to rejuvenate terrorist activities in the area. Notably, of the 31 fatalities in Rajouri, 10 were terrorists, and 14 were security personnel. In Poonch, the toll stood at 15 terrorists and five security personnel, while three terrorists met their end in the Reasi district.

The reports said that the majority of these terrorists were neutralised while trying to infiltrate across the border. Furthermore, in a significant anti-terror operation last May in the Chamrer forest, five Army personnel lost their lives, with a major-rank officer sustaining injuries. The operation culminated in the elimination of a foreign terrorist.