Securing routes was top agenda at meet

Mufti saheb’s wellintentioned attempt in light of the split verdict to bring together what he called the North and South Pole is in shambles. OTHER ISSUES UNDER DISCUSSION WERE COORDINATION AMONG FORCES, INFLUENCE PREACHERS AGAINST RADICALIST BEHAVIOUR

Better coordination and control over Kashmiri highways, killing militant leaders and influencing religious preachers were classified as top priorities for the forces in a key meet held before the Amarnath Yatra.

According to an intelligence document obtained by HT, a joint security review meeting was held at the Army’s 15 Core Headquarters in Srinagar a month ago and was attended by senior officials of the Indian armed forces, J&K police and intelligence agencies.

The meeting was co-chaired by General Officer Commanding (GoC) of 15 Corps Lt General JS Sandhu and Director General of Police Dr S P Vaid.

Susceptibility of the highways to militant attacks and possible solutions to avoid a strike were discussed at great length in the meeting. However, all precautions failed to stop the attack.

Minutes of the meeting reveal that GOC 15 Corps had asked all those present to focus on five areas of concern. An increase in number of attacks on National Highway-44 was raised as a major concern and it was discussed that while protection duties were being carried out jointly by the Army and CRPF there was a “need to have accountability for an area of responsibility”

The second issue discussed was security of convoys plying on national highways. The Kashmir police has maintained so far that the attack was targeted at the police party moving through the area at the same time.

In the meet it was discussed that there was a need “to coordinate among various security agencies for establishment of new joint control rooms at Manigam,Parimpura,Sempura,Sumbal and Aishmuqam”. Most areas of south Kashmir mentioned in the meeting witnessed multiple militant attacks in the past year.

Among other key discussions in the meet were militant leaders.

“The focus of counter-terrorist operations should be on neutralising the terrorist/group leaders. Specific Intelligence based joint operations should be executed by security forces, Credit for all operations will always be shared collectively,” the intelligence document reads.

The document further reads, “Efforts to de-radicalise society should be undertaken more vigorously. Endeavor is being made by influencing Moulvies (preachers), who can be utilised to propagate views and ideas against radicalisation.” The document also cites attempts made by militants to induct females, although this was uncorroborated.

Public anger over the killing of seven Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag spilled onto the streets of Jammu on Tuesday, with nine districts in the region – barring Kathua – witnessing partial bandhs.

The Bar Association and Youth Congress have called for a bandh in Kathua district on Wednesday. Angry protesters set tyres on fire and blocked the Jammu-Pathankot highway at Kathua and Samba, besides other roads in Doda. Agitations were also witnessed in other districts.

In Jammu, protesters burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the BJP-PDP government. Protests were held by various organisations, including the Congress, Panthers Party, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Jammu chamber of commerce and industry and the J&K high court bar association.

Panthers Party chairman Harsh Dev Singh led over 200 activists in demonstrations. “This is the biggest failure of the BJP-PDP government in J&K and the BJP government at the Centre... They should take responsibility not only for the terror attack but also for pushing Kashmir into the worst state of terror...” Singh said.

Over 500 Congress workers also took out a rally under the leadership of former minister Sham Lal Sharma. “Now the state government is trying to dodge the blame by claiming that the bus wasn’t part of the Yatra caravan.

The government should step down immediately to bring the situation under control...” said Sharma. The administration has ordered educational institutions to remain shut for the next two days, and suspended mobile Internet services in the region. Paramilitary and police forces have been deployed.

The security forces’ operation against terrorists would continue and all efforts made to ensure that the Amarnath yatra passes off peacefully