Close infiltration routes, eliminate ultras in hills

Top executives devise strategy
*LG, Chairman of the Army’s Security Review Meetings

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, July 20: Lt Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired a high-level security review meeting with top brass of the army, paramilitary forces, intelligence agencies and police to chalk out a strategy to crush rising terrorism in Jammu region. The LG also held a one-on-one meeting with the army chief.

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The Lt Governor chaired the security review meeting at Raj Bhawan here. For this, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who arrived here this afternoon, chaired the meeting of top brass of all security agencies at the police station to review the infiltration of the terrorists, plug the routes taken by the ultras and neutralise them in the hilly areas and other places where they were taking refuge.

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Besides the army chief, DG BSF Nitin Agarwal, CRPF DG Anish Dayal Singh, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, RAW chief Ravi Sinha, DGP RR Swain and top army commanders of the Northern and Western Commands were present at the meeting chaired by the LG.
Sinha has urged all security agencies to proactively carry out coordinated counter-terrorism operations in the Jammu region.
“We must conduct meticulous and well-planned counter-terrorism operations with greater synergy between all agencies to root out terrorists and those who aid and abet them,” the lieutenant governor said.
He also ordered to further strengthen the security network to prevent cross-border infiltration.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff chaired a high-level meeting on security at the police station here, attended by national leaders of paramilitary forces, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and RAW, besides DG JKP. The current situation in Jammu region following the increase in terrorist attacks was discussed.
“The brainstorming session went into detail on mapping the infiltration routes used by the terrorists to enter the Jammu region from Kathua and Punjab and then reach the mountainous areas of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda belt and other parts of the region.
“Another major focus of the meeting was to develop a comprehensive strategy to eliminate around 50 foreign terrorists who may be operating in groups of three in different parts of Jammu region,” the officials said.
They said the brainstorming session lasted for almost two hours and was attended by all stakeholders of the security establishment, as well as officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense. They discussed the situation and measures for feasible and result-oriented counter-terror operations.
During the meeting, concerns were raised about loopholes in the border leading to terrorist infiltration. It was stressed that surveillance should be maintained at the highest level, both at the international border and at the Line of Control.
Results-oriented operations were the focus in the hilly areas where the foreign terrorists are reportedly hiding and targeting the security forces.
The army chief and leaders of the paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies who arrived from New Delhi this afternoon returned in the evening.
Senior officials felt that new infiltration of terrorists through the International Border and the Line of Control should be stopped. It was decided to identify the infiltration routes and block them completely.
According to reports, officials were of the opinion that once the new infiltration stops, the terrorist threat would be largely contained as terrorists in the hinterland would be eliminated sooner or later.
“At the same time, a comprehensive strategy has been worked out to target the terrorists in the jungle or wherever they are hiding and eliminate them before they can carry out new attacks,” the officials said.