Amit Shah Reviews J&K Security Days After Poonch Terror Attack, Calls For Strengthening Local Intel

Days after Poonch terror attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reviewed the security situation of Jammu and Kashmir.

On December 21, four soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Poonch. The security forces believe that the attack was carried out by People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), which they say is a proxy of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad terror group. 

According to the PTI report, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Manoj Pande along with intelligence officials were present in the meeting. 

Home Minister Shah in the meeting has directed complete area domination and better coordination among police, Indian Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in J&K to strengthen security, ANI reported.

Shah also stressed on the need to boost and strengthen local intelligence, the report mentioned.

Also, the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir raised clamor after three civilians were found dead in Poonch.

The families of the three slain civilians had alleged that the trio were picked up for questioning by the security forces in connection with the Poonch ambush. The families also allged that the three were later killed in custody.

Following the allegations, Army launched a probe in the incident.

Earlier, Army Chief General Pande and Defence Minister Singh also arrived at the ground-zero after the Poonch ambush.

Jammu and Kashmir administration had also announced compensation and jobs to the families of the dead civilians and said legal action on the matter has been initiated.

There has been spike in militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch-Rajouri belt, especially in 2023.

The government has been claiming that the terrorist activities saw a decline in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to the erstwhile state. 

Violence in Jammu and Kashmir in 2023:

Sporadic violence continued in Jammu and Kashmir since the beginning of 2023.

Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a series of encounters last year that left 54 persons, including 28 terrorists and 19 security personnel, dead, officials said.

The officials have ascribed the uptick in violence to "desperate attempts from across the border" to revive terrorism in the region.

While 31 persons, including 10 terrorists and 14 security personnel, were killed in Rajouri, 15 terrorists and five security personnel were killed in Poonch district. Three terrorists were killed in the Reasi district.

Most of the terrorists were killed while attempting to sneak into this side of the border, the officials said.

In May last year, five Army personnel were killed and a major-rank officer was injured in Chamrer forest during an anti-terrorist operation. A foreign terrorist was also killed in the operation.