Need more steps to improve security situation in J&K, says CM Abdullah

He added such incidents had happened in the past as well and "I am of the opinion, although I don't have any intelligence reports, it was a new group (of terrorists) who had crossed into this side

Shifting of army personnel from Jammu to Ladakh to counter Chinese incursions allowed terrorists to exploit the situation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday, asserting more steps were needed to improve the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah was talking to reporters after visiting the bereaved families of four police personnel in Kathua, Reasi and Jammu districts. The cops were killed in a gunfight with infiltrating terrorists in the Safiyan forest of Kathua district on Thursday.

Two Pakistani terrorists, believed to be affiliated with the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad, were also killed in the encounter. A massive search operation is underway to track and neutralise other members of the group.

"Visited the families of our bravehearts -- Balvinder Singh, Tariq Ahmad, Jaswant Singh and Jagbir Singh -- who laid down their lives in the line of duty during the Kathua encounter. Their sacrifice is etched in our hearts forever. We stand with their families in this hour of grief," according to a post on the X handle of the Chief Minister's Office.

Talking to reporters after visiting the home of selection grade constable Tariq Ahmad, the chief minister said encounters and terror attacks were nothing new and had been happening in the Jammu region for the past three to four years.

"Even in Reasi district, there was an attack on a passenger bus (ferrying pilgrims last year). There were attacks in Jammu city. The reason behind this is that when the Chinese army made an incursion into Ladakh, we needed an army to counter them," Abdullah said.

"We could not remove the army from the valley and so the troops stationed in Jammu were sent to Ladakh, as a result of which there was a shortage somewhere. Now, that shortage is being slowly overcome," he added.

Assuring that the compensation cases of the fallen policemen would be taken up by the home department when offices reopened after Eid next week, he said "we should try not to have such incidents".

"We have to control militancy in such a way that the martyrdom of people is stopped forever," Abdullah said.

He added such incidents had happened in the past as well and "I am of the opinion, although I do not have any intelligence reports, that it was a new group (of terrorists) who had crossed into this side".

The chief minister said it was good fortune that the terrorists were caught by the police.

"If they were not caught by the police, then I do not know what they would have done by moving deep inside. Our four brave police officers sacrificed their lives but I think that many innocent lives have been saved by their timely action," Abdullah said.

Asked if the situation in the valley had improved over the years and terrorists shifted their base to the Jammu region, Abdullah refused to give a direct answer and said he would be accused of indulging in politics at a time of grief.

"We have just left a house where there is mourning. I have been to four places today. I have to express my condolences to each family member. Obviously, we have to take some more steps to improve the (security) situation," the chief minister said.