Focus of the security forces has shifted to North Kashmir to make it a militancy free region to boost development and ensure smooth tourism season this summer.
A high-level meeting of the top army and police officers was held on Friday to review of security situation and strengthen the synergy among all agencies engaged in the counter terror operations.
Chaired by the General officer Commanding 15 corps Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, the senior officers exhorted their field commanders to continue harmonising their endeavours to make North Kashmir terrorist free.
“They also emphasised on continued efforts to minimise collateral damage during operations and positive engagement of the youth to ensure peace and tranquillity in the region”, said Colonel Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesman at Srinagar.
Colonel Kalia said North Kashmir, once the hub of foreign terrorists, has been turned around with a relatively stable security environment due to the joint efforts of the security forces and seamless cooperation and coordination .
“A peaceful security environment would facilitate development, disruption free educational calendar, boost to tourism sector and impetus to creating employment opportunities”, said Colonel Kalia.
The security review meeting comes against the backdrop of the massive operation against the newly infiltrated Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in Halmatpora jungles of Kupwara district in north Kashmir.
Security forces suffered heavy casualties when five soldiers including two policemen and three army personnel were killed in a fierce encounter that started on Tuesday afternoon in Halmatpora village in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Five highly motivated militants have also been killed in the operation.
The security review meeting has been held at a time when the tourism season is about to start in the valley. For the last two years, there has been considerable drop in the number of tourists given the unrest post Burhan Wani’s killing on July 8 2016. This year the security forces are taking all precautions to ensure peaceful environment to boost the confidence of the tourists visiting the valley.
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