Chief Minister Omar Abdulah expresses hope that statehood will be restored, emphasizing that the current responsibility of law and order with the Lt Governor
Our Bureau
New Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday declared the government’s unwavering commitment to achieving a goal of “terror-free Jammu and Kashmir” at the earliest, and assured that all necessary resources would be provided to meet this goal, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “zero tolerance policy.”
He highlighted the importance of executing the “area domination plan” and “zero terror plan” in “mission mode” to ensure the complete eradication of terrorism from the region.
Addressing the high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said that “in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Zero Tolerance Policy against terrorism, we will achieve the goal of ‘Terror Free Jammu and Kashmir’ at the earliest and all resources will be made available for this.”
He said that the Modi government, with the joint efforts of all security forces, is committed to establishing complete dominance over terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah said that the unprecedented participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections shows that they have full faith in the democracy of the country.
He appreciated the efforts of the security agencies for a significant decline in terrorist incidents, infiltration and recruitment of youth in terrorist organizations.
The Minister further said due to the sustained and coordinated efforts of the Modi government, the eco-system of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has almost ended.
He further directed all security agencies to continue working in a coordinated manner to eliminate terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary, Director (IB), RAW Chief, Chief of Army Staff, GOC-in-C (Northern Command), DGMO, Chief Secretary and DGP of Jammu and Kashmir, heads of CAPFs and other senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs attended the meeting.
The meeting was significant in terms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government’s commitment to set an example by cracking down on terrorists through innovative means.
Later, Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Thursday held a high-level meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah focusing on key security issues, particularly related to Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister expressed hope that statehood will be restored, emphasizing that the current responsibility of law and order and security lies with the Lieutenant Governor.
“The meeting with the Home Minister was regarding the situation in J&K, restoration of statehood, …There were talks over statehood to J&K and there is hope that it will be restored. At present, the responsibility of law and order and security is of the LG. I have told the Home Minister that terror and militancy can be dealt with only by including the people of J&K by taking into confidence the elected representatives.,” he said.
Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, National Investigation Agency Director General Sadanand Date, and BSF Chief Daljeet Singh Chawdhary were among the other officers to attend the meeting.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat also attended the meeting.
Earlier on Thursday, five terrorists were neutralized by the security forces while two soldiers sustained injuries in an encounter in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said, “Five terrorists neutralized by the security forces in the ongoing operation in Kader, Kulgam. During the firefight, two soldiers have suffered injuries and have been evacuated for medical care.”
An encounter broke out in the Kadder area of Kulgam district. Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said that the terrorists opened a “heavy volume” of fire when challenged by the security forces. On December 3, a terrorist identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat was killed in an ongoing operation with security forces in Srinagar district. Police said Bhat was involved in civilians killing at Gagangir, Ganderbal and several other terror attacks, in Jammu and Kashmir.
