Shah to chair crucial security meet today

JAMMU: In the back drop of prevailing situation in Kashmir valley as well as the heightened threats from Pakistan-based terror groups in the wake of abrogation of special status given to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on Monday convene a high-level security meeting, even as he will interact with ATS of different states to formulate a comprehensive counter-terrorism action plan.
He will address top officials of the Anti Terrorism Squads (ATS) from various states amidst heightened threats of terror attacks in J&K and other states of the country as planned by terror outfits on Monday and later on will chair a meeting of the police chiefs of all the states and central armed forces to review the security situation.
While first event—a conference is being organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the second meeting spread across two days, is organised by Intelligence Bureau.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will participate in both these events.
There have been heightened threats from Pakistan-based terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen to carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the hinterlands since August 5 when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370.
In this connection, Shah will take part in an important conference where he will also address top officials of the ATS from various states.
The conference, also to be addressed by NSA Doval, is expected to formulate a comprehensive counter-terrorism action plan and how to enhance cooperation among ATS of different states.
The threats to the ongoing festive season as well as how to deal with them are also expected to be discussed in the meeting, an official said.
"The home minister will deliver the inaugural address where he is likely to highlight the central government's outlines for the emerging terror threats," a Home Ministry official said.
The top officials of ATS of the states will give presentation on their own anti-terror strategies and the action plans put in place to deal with any kind of emergencies.
The conference is being organised by the NIA.
Meanwhile, Shah has called on Monday a high-level meeting of the police chiefs of all the states and central armed forces to review the security situation as the government pushes to recalibrate the national security strategy.
The meeting is organised by Intelligence Bureau on October 14 and October 15 which will be chaired by Shah in New Delhi.
Respective Director Generals of Police, besides discussing vital security elements like radicalization, cyber security, naxalism and others, will also be presenting action taken report of their states.
"Cyber crime and ISIS influence in Indian sub continent will be the major issue apart from police moderation and judicial reformation," said a senior IPS officer, who will also be participating in the meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been pushing police chiefs to work in seamless co-ordination to thwart looming threats.
He had also suggested that all the states should learn best practices from the Jammu and Kashmir police force for their role in countering terrorists, and successfully engaging them.
Shah has sought the details of works done as suggested by Modi this year by forces across the country. He will personally review each Director Generals of Police's work.
Sources further said that Shah's focus wil be on the progress made in respect to intelligence gathering and real coordination with the states. The anti-terror units of the states would also be part of the meet.
In the last Conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police at Kevadiya in Gujarat held between December 20 to December 22, Modi had suggested various key issues that need to be addressed in a time bound manner and had sought a compliance report from Home Ministry.

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