Home Minister arrives in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 22: Stating that action must be strong, not a bit negotiable, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday directed an all-out onslaught against terrorism and their sympathisers in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of

a terror attack in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district that killed 26 individuals, who were mostly tourists.

The Home Minister, who reached Srinagar late in the evening on Tuesday, had a series of high-level interactions with senior security personnel and political leadership to assess the situation and outline an immediate security response.

Shah ordered the security establishment to go all out against the terror perpetrators and their networks.

ìNone of them will be spared," a senior official said. ìHe has also ordered stepped-up patrolling, surveillance, and preventive measures to prevent further incidents.î

Upon arrival at the Srinagar Technical Airport at 8 pm, the Home Minister was received by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, CMís Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, and Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat among others.

Shah was joined by LG Sinha, who had arrived with him from Delhi after the attack.

He then had a short 20-minute meeting at the airport itself which was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

In the evening, he went directly to Raj Bhavan, where there was a comprehensive security review meeting.

The meeting was attended by the top brass of security and intelligence establishment including the Union Home Secretary, J&K Chief Secretary, J&K Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the head of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the GOC of the Army's 15 Corps, the Additional Director General of Police (CID), Inspector General of Police (Kashmir), senior CRPF officials from CRPF, and others.

During the meeting, Shah shared great distress about the killings and asked for fixing responsibility.

ìThe Home Minister gave a clear word that the action needs to be strong, not a bit negotiable, and quick. Public security and protecting the tourists was given topmost priority,î the senior official privy to the meeting said. ìAmit Shah has promised the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and the country that the perpetrators of the cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam will be punished. The government is with the victims' families and the victims themselves during this time of sorrow.î

Shah also had a short interaction with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his officials to ensure political coordination for counter-terror operations.

Both Abdullah and LG Sinha reportedly assured complete cooperation and agreed to harden the counter-terror grid in Kashmir.

The Home Minister will visit the site of the Pahalgam attack on Wednesday morning.

According to sources, he will meet with survivors, victimsí families, and local Police officers who are engaged in the response efforts.

The assault, which hit a group of tourists, is among the deadliest in years.