Jammu, Jul 11 (KNO): Top Border Security Force (BSF) and police officials from Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab gathered for an inter-state coordination conference in bordering Kathua district of J&K on Wednesday in the backdrop of a terrorist ambush on an army patrol that left five soldiers dead and as many injured on Tuesday.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the meeting was attended by Special Director General of BSF, Western Command, Y B Khurania, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police R R Swain, his Punjab counterpart Gaurav Yadav. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), J-K, Vijay Kumar, ADG (Law and Order), Punjab, Arpit Shukla and Inspector General-rank BSF officers of Punjab and Jammu were also present at the meeting, they said.
“The meeting was held for three and half-hours during which officers from various agencies deliberated on security grid along the International Border and plug any loopholes,” officials said, adding “Discussions were held on devising a joint strategy for addressing cross-border infiltration along the Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab stretch of the IB and countering terrorist activities in the Jammu region, bordering Punjab.”
Another officer said that today's meeting was a highly useful Inter-State Coordination Conference between BSF, J&K Police, Central Agencies and the Punjab Police. During the discussion officers shared their jurisdictional challenges, which were addressed and focus was laid on enhancing border security and synergy between the two State Police Forces and the Border Guarding Force. He further added that all agencies in unison agreed to exchange best practices and explore innovative solutions to bolster border management and public safety.
Meanwhile, more than 50 people have so far been detained for questioning, including three individuals among one woman who cooked food and handed over and person suspected of providing food and shelter to the terrorists, as a massive manhunt for the terrorists entered the fourth day.
Officials said that more army personnel were deployed in the hills and dense forests of Jammu Kathua-Udhampur-Doda belt to trace down the terrorists behind the ambush on an army patrol in Kathua.
On the search operation, the officials said troops are moving with caution as there is a threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS). The search has been expanded into the hilly areas of Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda districts of the Jammu region, which has seen a spate of terror incidents since June.
Troops from the army’s Yol Based 9 Corps have intensified their presence in the Kathua hills, while the Delta Force of the 16 Corps has moved in more personnel in the twin districts of Udhampur and Doda, focusing on areas like Seoj Dhar, historically a sanctuary for terrorists, particularly foreign militants, in 1990s. A defence spokesperson said that GOC Jammu based 16 corps visited Udhampur and Doda and monitored the search operation.
“GOC White Knight Corps, along with GOC (Delta) visited Basantgarh Doda to assess the present security situation. The review underscored the imperative of synergy & seamless coordination between Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and all Security Agencies to maintain Peace and Stability in the region,” the spokesperson said.
This has been done to cordon the hilly areas so that the terrorists cannot escape, the officials said and added that the ground teams are being supported by surveillance data from unmanned aerial vehicles. Special Forces and sniffer dog units of the army have also been deployed, they said. These areas are characterized by dense forests, deep valleys, caves, and rugged terrain, with troops contending with adverse weather conditions such as rain and fog, the officials said.
Security measures have been increased to counter potential IED threats along highways and other sensitive areas, including the sites of the ongoing Amarnath yatra, they said
Earlier on July 8 , five army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed and as many injured when terrorists opened fire on two army vehicles on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountain road near Badnota village, about 150 km from the district headquarters of Kathua. The officials said the terrorists are believed to have successfully infiltrated through the International Border and managed to reach the dense forests of Machedi that connect Basantgarh in Udhampur and Bhaderwah in Doda district—(KNO)