In a major development pertaining to the increased targeted civilian killings in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will take over the probe into four cases, including the killing of M.L. Bindroo, a Kashmiri Pandit and pharmacist. The other three cases include the killings of Virendra Paswan, Supinder Kaur, and Deepak Chand.
In addition, the killing of two non-local labourers in Kulgam will also be probed by the central agency. According to sources, the NIA is looking into the role of Pakistan and is looking at the killings as “lone wolf” attacks carried out by an overground network of terrorist organisations. Sources said that the NIA is waiting for an official notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and informed him about the steps taken by the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the Union Home Ministry to improve the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah reached PM Modi’s official residence 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in the morning to brief him about the situation in Kashmir.
The two leaders discussed the atmosphere of fear created due to target killings by terrorists in Kashmir. The Home Minister also informed the Prime Minister about the exodus of fear driven migrants from the Valley. During the meeting with the PM, the Home Minister also briefed him about other important issues related to internal security. In the last 16 days, terrorists have killed 11 non-local individuals in the Valley. Due to this an atmosphere of fear has been created there leading to the exodus of migrants.
Amit Shah will visit Jammu and Kashmir on October 23-25 and will hold important high-level meetings with regard to the security situation in Kashmir. This is the first visit of the Union Home Minister to the union territory after the abrogation of Article 370. During this visit, the Home Minister will not only give tips to improve security situation but will also make various announcements related to the developmental projects. Earlier on Monday, Amit Shah held a marathon meeting with senior officials including DGPs, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, IB Chief and discussed the situation of internal security in detail.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General M.M. Naravane on Tuesday visited forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu on Tuesday and was briefed about the ground situation and ongoing counter-infiltration operations, officials said here.
Amid the heightened counter-terrorist operations in the Poonch-Rajouri sector, Army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane is on a two-day visit to the Jammu region to review the overall security situation on the ground. Naravane undertook the first-hand assessment of the situation along the Line of Control (LOC) and was briefed by the commanders on the ground about the present situation and ongoing counter-infiltration operations.
“General MM Naravane COAS visited forward areas of #WhiteKnight Corps & undertook a first-hand assessment of the situation along the Line of Control. COAS was briefed by commanders on the ground about the present situation & ongoing counter-infiltration operations,” said a tweet from the handle of Additional Directorate General of Public Information, Indian Army.
The Poonch sector has seen heightened military activities in the last fortnight as nine Army soldiers have lost their lives there and operations are still on in the 16 Corps area to neutralise the terrorists. After a lull of six months, terrorist activities have gone up in the hinterland and ceasefire violations attempts are also on the rise in the Jammu area.