Amit Shah Chairs High-Level Security Meeting on Amarnath Yatra Terror Threats

New Delhi, August 4, 2019:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a high-level security meeting amid escalating tensions in Jammu and Kashmir where a major security build up has ignited tensions in the region.

The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Intelligence Bureau chief Arvind Kumar, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Kumar Goel and senior Home Ministry officials.

Meanwhile, Additional Secretary (Jammu and Kashmir Division) Gyanesh Kumar separately briefed Amit Shah about the situation in Kashmir Valley.

All Amarnath pilgrims as well as tourists have been told to leave the Kashmir valley “as soon as possible”.

Shah spoke about the preparation to deal with terror attacks and deployment of security establishment in the Kashmir Valley amid inputs that Pakistan-backed terrorists were planning to target the Amarnath Yatra.

The Home Minister was also apprised about the situation on the border where some Pakistani soldiers were killed by Indian forces when they tried to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir on the night of July 31-August 1.

It is to be mentioned that on August 2, after receiving serious security alerts by intelligence, Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourists have been advised by the Jammu and Kashmir government to leave the Kashmir Valley “immediately” and go back.

The Kashmir government through an official statement said, “Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats, with specific targeting of the Amarnath Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible.”

The army and the state police, in a joint press conference stated that there were “confirmed intelligence reports” that terrorists backed by the Pakistan army were trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra.

While, the Chinar Corps Commander Lt General KJS Dhillon stated, “In the last three-four days, there were confirmed intelligence reports that terrorists backed by Pakistan and its army is trying to disrupt Amarnath Yatra and based on that a thorough search was conducted. We had major successes in these searches.”

The security personnel recovered a landmine with Pakistan ordnance factory markings and an M-24 American sniper rifle with a telescope, reports.

As per official reports, a massive threat of IEDs or crude bombs and bombs had been found in searches along the Amarnath Yatra route.

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