Ecosystem that aids, abets terrorism in J&K has to be dismantled: Amit Shah

New Delhi, Dec 28 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir that aids, abets and sustains the terrorist-separatist campaign to the detriment of the well-being of common people requires to be dismantled.

At a meeting here, Shah reviewed the functioning of the security grid and various aspects related to security in Jammu and Kashmir and gave directions to officials to follow the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism.

“A terror ecosystem comprising elements that aid, abet and sustain the terrorist-separatist campaign to the detriment of the well-being of common people requires to be dismantled,” Shah was quoted as saying in an official statement.

At the meeting, Shah also reviewed various developmental works being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and emphasised on timely completion of projects.

He also directed officials to strive to achieve 100 percent saturation of beneficiaries under various schemes and ensure the benefits of development reach every section of society.

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, senior officials of the home ministry, intelligence agencies, paramilitary forces and officers from Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting.

The pre-scheduled meeting was held on a day four heavily-armed terrorists, who came from Pakistan, were killed in a “chance encounter” in Jammu.

Early this month, there were reports that people from the Kashmiri Pandit community working in the valley were in a state of panic after a terrorist group released a “hit list” of 56 employees from among them.

A blog linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, published the list of 56 Kashmiri Pandit employees who were recruited under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package (PMRP), and warned of mounting attacks on them.

In the aftermath of targeted killings by terrorists, several Kashmiri Pandits employed in the valley under the PMRP have shifted to Jammu and are on a protest for over 200 days demanding their relocation.

The government had informed Parliament that as many as 118 civilians, including five Kashmiri Pandits and 16 other Hindus and Sikhs, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 till July 2022.

The killings of Kashmiri Pandits had triggered protests by members of the community and they demanded enhanced security and the transfer of government employees to safer locations.

In May, four Hindu pilgrims were killed and at least 20 injured when their bus caught fire near Katra in Jammu.

Police suspect a “sticky bomb” might have been used to trigger the fire.

Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated on August 5, 2019 and the state was divided into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

In a separate meeting, the home minister also reviewed the development initiatives being carried out in Ladakh.