With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to J&K and the approaching Amarnath Yatra, central agencies, security forces, and local administration are intensifying security measures in response to increased threats from terror groups and intelligence reports suggesting possible attacks in the Union Territory. These precautions are also critical considering the likely Assembly elections post-Amarnath Yatra.
A security review meeting, led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is set for Sunday, with additional forces expected to be deployed for the upcoming events in J&K.
Earlier this month, forces were dispatched from Ranikhet, Guwahati, Patna, and Lucknow to Jammu and Kashmir for the Amarnath Yatra. Despite the presence of central police forces, recent attacks have prompted senior officials to call for more reinforcements.
Sources indicate that additional bulletproof vehicles will be provided for force movements in Jammu. The CRPF, which assists local police in J&K, may also utilize specialized Anti-Terror Quick Action teams in the region.
A senior official overseeing the operations told News18 that threat messages from various terror groups have doubled on social media. Central intelligence agencies have assigned a senior-level official to J&K to enhance input generation.
“We are seeing almost double the number of inputs since the June 9 Reasi attack in which nine civilians were killed in a bus. Forces are coordinating with intelligence agencies to act on inputs suggesting hideouts of terrorists,” said a senior government official.
A CRPF official stationed in J&K added that multiple threat messages are circulating, including potential camp attacks, fidayeen (suicide) attacks, ambushes, and civilian killings. “We are tracking these threats to know the authenticity so that corrective measures can be taken before any incident,” the official said.
On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed J&K’s security in a meeting with senior officers of the MHA. He also directed a security review meeting on June 16 in North Block, focusing on preparations for the Amarnath Yatra. The meeting will include the L-G of Jammu & Kashmir, NSA, Union Home Secretary, senior Army and police officers, J&K administration, and MHA officials.
In the past 72 hours, J&K has witnessed three terror attacks. On Tuesday evening, terrorists attacked a village near the international border, injuring a civilian. During a subsequent search operation, one terrorist was killed while efforts continue to apprehend another believed to have infiltrated from across the border.
Previously, in one of the significant incidents since the abrogation of Article 370, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra in Reasi on Sunday. The bus fell into a deep gorge during the attack, resulting in nine fatalities and injuring 41 others.
