Rly Board Chairman, DG RPF assess arrangements in Katra
*Train to start from Katra, shift to Jammu in Aug
JAMMU, Mar 9: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan today reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Jammu region, arrangements for Shri Amarnath yatra and launch of train to the Kashmir valley at a high-level meeting here attended by top officers of paramilitary forces, Intelligence agencies, Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration
While no official statement was issued on the review meeting, sources told the Excelsior that entire gamut of security situation including infiltration attempts from Pakistan, stepping up anti-terror operations in the hinterland and eliminating terrorists from upper reaches of the Jammu region, came up for the review.
Kashmir tourism Senior officers of almost all paramilitary forces and Intelligence agencies joined the meeting. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, UT Home Secretary Chandraker Bharti, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, Additional DGP CID Nitish Kumar, IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti and IGP Kashmir VK Birdi among others attended the meeting from J&K.
At the same time, the Chairman Railways Board and Director General of Railways Protection Force (RPF) also visited Katra railway station this morning to assess preparedness of launching train service to Kashmir, an issue which also prominently figured at the meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary at Jammu Convention Centre which lasted nearly three hours.
Inside reports suggest that train to Srinagar will initially be launched from Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine. However, the train to Valley will start operations from Jammu when the number of platforms is increased and renovation work is completed, most likely by August.
“There will be no direct train from Delhi or any other part to Kashmir. The passengers will have to de-board at Katra and change the train. Later, the same process will shift to Jammu,” the sources said but added that details are expected to be announced within the next few days. They said the train to the Valley will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Katra but a date is yet to be announced.
The Chairman Railways Board and Director General RPF also reviewed various aspects of the situation before launch of train to the Valley, at Katra with senior officers today and then returned to New Delhi.
Several trials of train from Katra to Baramulla including that of Vande Bharat have been successful and now security issues are being taken into account, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the Home Secretary took detailed assessment of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Jammu region and stepping up operations against terrorists in the upper reaches in close coordination by security forces and police at the security review meeting.
“The infiltration attempts by the terrorists on LoC and International Border and further strengthening of anti-infiltration and anti-militancy Grids were also discussed,” the sources said, adding that operations will be stepped-up against the terrorists in upper reaches of the Jammu region.
The meeting also reviewed preliminary arrangements for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnathji.
The Home Secretary and senior officers of paramilitary forces returned to the Union capital in the afternoon.
Sources said that the Union Home Ministry is concerned about the reports of terrorists’ presence in upper reaches of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
A strategy has been finalized to neutralize the terrorists jointly by the security forces.
This year so far, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at three high level meetings on February 4, 5 and 11. He had also chaired a similar meeting on December 19, 2024. In less than three months, he has taken review of the UT’s security four times. The Home Secretary visited Jammu and Kashmir for the second time. He reviewed security scenario in the Valley on December 30.
Sources said the roadmap for the Jammu region include flushing out terrorists from the upper reaches. While exact number of the terrorists operating in the hills is anybody’s guess, they are reportedly moving in the groups of three to four, the reports available with security agencies suggest.
At the same time, the Chairman Railways Board and Director General of Railways Protection Force (RPF) also visited Katra railway station this morning to assess preparedness of launching train service to Kashmir, an issue which also prominently figured at the meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary at Jammu Convention Centre which lasted nearly three hours.
Inside reports suggest that train to Srinagar will initially be launched from Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine. However, the train to Valley will start operations from Jammu when the number of platforms is increased and renovation work is completed, most likely by August.
“There will be no direct train from Delhi or any other part to Kashmir. The passengers will have to de-board at Katra and change the train. Later, the same process will shift to Jammu,” the sources said but added that details are expected to be announced within the next few days. They said the train to the Valley will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Katra but a date is yet to be announced.
The Chairman Railways Board and Director General RPF also reviewed various aspects of the situation before launch of train to the Valley, at Katra with senior officers today and then returned to New Delhi.
Several trials of train from Katra to Baramulla including that of Vande Bharat have been successful and now security issues are being taken into account, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the Home Secretary took detailed assessment of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Jammu region and stepping up operations against terrorists in the upper reaches in close coordination by security forces and police at the security review meeting.
“The infiltration attempts by the terrorists on LoC and International Border and further strengthening of anti-infiltration and anti-militancy Grids were also discussed,” the sources said, adding that operations will be stepped-up against the terrorists in upper reaches of the Jammu region.
The meeting also reviewed preliminary arrangements for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnathji.
The Home Secretary and senior officers of paramilitary forces returned to the Union capital in the afternoon.
Sources said that the Union Home Ministry is concerned about the reports of terrorists’ presence in upper reaches of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
A strategy has been finalized to neutralize the terrorists jointly by the security forces.
This year so far, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at three high level meetings on February 4, 5 and 11. He had also chaired a similar meeting on December 19, 2024. In less than three months, he has taken review of the UT’s security four times. The Home Secretary visited Jammu and Kashmir for the second time. He reviewed security scenario in the Valley on December 30.
Sources said the roadmap for the Jammu region include flushing out terrorists from the upper reaches. While exact number of the terrorists operating in the hills is anybody’s guess, they are reportedly moving in the groups of three to four, the reports available with security agencies suggest.
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