SRINAGAR, JAN 09: In a recent meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, it was decided to frame a security plan for 2024 on how to bring peace in J&K and to eliminate 25-30 suspected terrorists operating in twin districts-Rajouri and Poonch.
Amit Shah recently reviewed the security situation in J&K in which Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha along with heads of security agencies participated. The meeting was convened to review the security situation in J&K, especially in Poonch and Rajouri districts where recently the army lost several officials.
Sources within the security agencies said that there are at least eight points in the security plan 2024 for J&K.
“A top priority will be to eliminate around 25-30 suspected terrorists operating in Poonch and Rajouri districts of J&K. The security agencies have been directed to scale up counter-terrorism operations, especially in these two districts,” a top army official said, wishing not to be quoted by name.
The security agencies have found that terrorists have shifted to Rajouri and Poonch districts. “Both these districts are close to the Line of Control and have dense forests and terrorists get ample cover there. Similarly, there are numerous natural caves where these terrorists are hiding,” the official said.
In the security plan, the security agencies have been directed to identify all natural and hideouts in these two districts and dismantle them at the earliest.
During 2023, the highest casualties were reported from these two districts. At least 25 terrorists were killed there while 19 security personnel also lost their lives during encounters in Rajouri and Poonch last year.
Similarly, security agencies have identified at least 9000 social media handles that are resorting to anti-India propaganda.
The security agencies have been directed to identify all over ground workers (OGWs) who are extending help to terrorists.
Sources within the security agencies said under the security plan, human intelligence will be strengthened and those who provide information about terrorists and their hideouts will be rewarded with a cash prize and their identities won’t be disclosed.
Additional security forces will also be deployed along the borders to stop infiltration from across the border.
The village defence committees will also be strengthened. The Village Defence Committees (VDCs) were set up in the 1990s to arm villagers for self-defence purposes. The VDCs are now being revived. Their older .303 rifles have been replaced with self-loading rifles (SLR) and Jammu and Kashmir Police and Indian Army have been providing them training sessions.
Similarly, the meeting also discussed security preparations for the upcoming Parliamentary polls, Assembly elections and also Panchayat polls, which is also part of security plan 2024.
