Jammu: Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth on Tuesday reviewed the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir during his maiden visit to the Union Territory after assuming office, even as security forces intensified anti-terror operations across the Valley with multiple recoveries of arms and ammunition and continued search operations against militants.
General Seth called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, where the two reviewed the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.
Later, the Army Chief met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at his residence. He was accompanied by General Officer Commanding (GOC), Chinar Corps, Lieutenant General Balbir Singh during the meetings.
The high-level interactions came amid heightened counter-insurgency operations across north and south Kashmir and enhanced security arrangements for the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
Meanwhile, the search operation to track down two local Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists entered its fourth day in Shopian district.
Security forces resumed combing operations at first light after suspending the search overnight. The two terrorists, identified as Latif and Zakir, were first detected through surveillance cameras on July 3 in the dense orchard belt of Meemandar comprising seven villages.
A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has maintained a tight cordon around the area, with four villages already cleared. According to officials, the trapped militants opened fire when security forces closed in, triggering an exchange of fire.
The Army’s specialised Victor Force has deployed additional troops to block all possible escape routes through the thick orchard cover. Officials said dense summer foliage continues to pose operational challenges by limiting visibility and providing natural concealment to militants.
Security records indicate that both militants are residents of Kulgam district. Zakir is believed to have joined the LeT in 2024, while Latif became associated with the outfit last year. Officials said neutralising local operatives remains crucial to disrupting terror logistics and recruitment networks in south Kashmir.
In north Kashmir, the Army busted a terrorist hideout in the Keran sector of Kupwara following specific intelligence inputs.
During the operation, security forces recovered five AK-series rifles, nine AK magazines, one hand grenade, a large quantity of ammunition and other war-like stores, officials said.
In another operation, security forces comprising the 12 Grenadiers and the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) concluded a search operation in the Hatlanga area of Baramulla after recovering a substantial cache of arms and other incriminating material.
The recoveries included two AK-56 rifles, two magazines, 256 rounds of ammunition, one pistol with two magazines, five Type-36 hand grenades, 250 grams of suspected narcotics, three cigarette packets and a black bag. The operation, which began early in the morning, was called off after the recoveries.
As part of efforts to strengthen security for religious pilgrimages, a multi-agency mock drill was conducted at Ransoo, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district.
The exercise involved personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and the Indian Army and was aimed at testing coordinated response mechanisms in the event of any security contingency.
The drill focused on rapid mobilisation of forces, area domination, civilian evacuation, communication systems and inter-agency coordination under a simulated emergency scenario. Senior officers supervised the exercise and reviewed the preparedness of participating agencies.
Officials said such joint drills form an integral part of ongoing security measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims, residents and visitors, while enhancing operational coordination among various security agencies.
The series of operations and high-level security reviews underscore the continued focus of security forces on maintaining peace, preventing militant activities and ensuring robust security arrangements during the ongoing pilgrimage season in Jammu and Kashmir.
