After a detailed review of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir during his maiden visit to the valley since the Centre’s Article 370 move in 2019, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told officials to focus on “ending terrorism” or “take transfer”, CNN-News18 has learnt.
“Don’t bother about welfare… that we will see (if) you work on finishing terrorism. We have zero-tolerance for terrorism in the valley,” a senior J&K officer quoted Shah as saying.
Shah’s straight message came during a meeting held on Saturday last week to review the union territory’s security status. It was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the J&K chief secretary, DGP Kashmir, IG Kashmir, Intelligence Bureau and RAW chiefs, and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, the officer told News18. The Home Minister’s four-day visit came amid a recent spate of attacks on civilians in the valley.
At the meeting, the senior officer said Shah addressed the intelligence chiefs and enquired about “doable” solutions to curb terrorism in J&K. The intelligence chiefs informed the Home Minister about their style of functioning and pointed out that local officials don’t want to work on information provided by intelligence, as they feel that “investigations would take place and the CBI would come to the valley”. On this, Shah said those who are scared should not work in Kashmir and take decent postings instead, the officer told News18.
“By staying here, they should not oblige us,” Shah said. The source said Shah’s message was loud and clear that those not keen enough to work in J&K, must leave immediately.
Shah also spoke to the Army Commander and informed him about ‘lapses’ in the security arrangements, the source said. The HM was informed that only 11 infiltrations had happened in 2021 and that the number was reduced to a great extent. Shah, however, said if only 11 infiltrations had taken place, the number of killings should also be less, according to sources.
Shah said that with 11 infiltrations and so many terrorists killed in the valley, militancy should have ended there, which was not happening. “Do you think this is the right answer?” the Home Minister said, according to the sources.
The Home Minister also told officials to arrest all overground workers (OGWs) without any hesitation. “Let them face the music of doing anti-national work,” the sources quoted Shah. Overground workers (OGWs) are those that provide logistical support, cash, accommodation, and other facilities to militants in Jammu and Kashmir. The police classify an OGW as “anyone who supports the insurgents”.
Security forces had recently detained more than 900 OGWs of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Al-Badr and The Resistance Front (TRF).
The valley has witnessed a spate of attacks on civilians recently, with eleven of them killed this month alone. Five of those killed were labourers from Bihar, while three, including two teachers, belonged to minority communities in Kashmir.
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