Rajnath chairs meet to review J&K situation

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today chaired a high level meeting here to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of recent spurt in militant attacks including the deadly Pampore strike.
The review meeting, in which Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was present, comes a day ahead of the start of Amarnath Yatra. Top civil administration and security officials of the state were also present in the meeting, officials said.
During the hour-long meeting, the Union Home Minister was briefed about the security situation in the state, particularly in the backdrop of the recent spurt in militancy-related incidents in the valley, the officials said.

"The Home Minister was informed about the recent militant attacks in security forces including the deadly attack at Pampore that led eight CRPF personnel and two militants dead. The attacks on BSF in Bijbehara and on police Anantnag were also discussed," an official said.
Singh was also briefed about the counter-insurgency and counter-infiltration operations in the state which saw elimination of more than a dozen militants during the month of June, officials said.
The officials said the Home Minister was briefed about the steps taken for ensuring incident-free Amarnath Yatra which will begin from tomorrow.

The first batch of pilgrims left from Jammu this morning and arrived at the base camps of Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal districts.

Singh stressed on effective coordination between various security and intelligence agencies to thwart the attempts of militants to disrupt peace in the state, the officials added.
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Meanwhile, an official spokesman said the meeting deliberated upon the strategic issues pertaining to situation in the state with particular reference to development projects of the state.
The Union Home Minister expressed satisfaction over the performance of the State Government as well as the security forces and complimented them for excellent ground co-ordination and synergy, the spokesman said.
He said during the meeting, a range of issues pertaining to the state were discussed.

Singh assured of positive outcomes on issues of opening of more Line of Control (LoC) routes for trade and business, giving permission to foreigners to visit Ladakh including Nubra valley, quick resolution of land related issues, increasing ex-gratia payment to families of martyred J-K police personnel at par with the Central Forces and restarting the police modernisation.
He also instructed the CRPF and BSF to explore the possibility of conducting special recruitment drives in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Home Minister asked the agencies to ensure fool proof security in the state, with primacy being to protecting the life and property of civilians, the spokesman said.

He said the State Government expressed its confidence of maintaining security in the State, including during the Amarnath Yatra.
Singh also asked the BSF and the Army to step up the vigil at the International Border and the LoC, so that the evil designs of the enemy could be frustrated.
Earlier, the Union Home Minister and Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra held discussions on varied issues relating to the future growth and development of the State, the spokesman said.