Union Home Minister Amit Shah calls for implementation of Zero-Terror Plan in Jammu
This directive came during a high-level meeting where he reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory following four terror attacks in the past week
On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah instructed the army, paramilitary forces, and intelligence agencies to replicate the successful counter-terrorism strategies, part of the “Zero-Terror Plan,” employed in the Kashmir Valley in the Jammu region. This directive came during a high-level meeting where he reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory following four terror attacks in the past week and discussed preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.
The Home Minister emphasised the need to leverage modern technology to enhance local intelligence networks, detect tunnels used by terrorists, and address drone intrusions. He underscored that security forces and intelligence agencies must operate in “mission mode” and improve their coordination efforts.
The five-hour meeting, held at North Block, included key figures such as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Army Chief-designate Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh, BSF Director General Nitin Agarwal, J&K Police Chief RR Swain, and other senior security officials.
A statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs stated, “The Union home minister directed security agencies to replicate the successes achieved in Kashmir Valley through the area dominance plan and the zero terror plan in Jammu division. He asserted that the PM Narendra Modi led government is committed to setting an example by cracking down on terrorists through innovative means. The home minister directed all security agencies to work in mission mode and ensure quick response in a coordinated manner.”
The meeting followed a series of terror attacks that unsettled Jammu last week. Since June 9, four consecutive attacks in the Reasi, Kathua, and Doda districts have been carried out by highly trained foreign terrorists from Pakistan, targeting civilians and security forces. The first incident occurred on June 9 in Reasi, where armed terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims, causing it to veer off the road and plunge into a gorge, resulting in nine deaths and 42 injuries.
On Tuesday night in Kathua, a gun battle erupted and continued into Wednesday morning, resulting in one CRPF jawan being killed, six security personnel and one civilian being injured, and two terrorists being neutralized. On Wednesday, three to four militants attacked a joint check post of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and the Jammu & Kashmir Police in Chattargala, Doda, injuring five army personnel and a special police officer after several hours of fighting.
The second attack occurred in the Kota Top area, 150 km from Chhattargala, where terrorists assaulted a police team, injuring head constable Fareed Ahmed. These attacks have heightened tensions in the region, which is now a hotbed of cross-border terrorism in the restive Union Territory. In response, Prime Minister Modi led a high-level review meeting on Thursday, instructing security forces to deploy comprehensive counterterror measures to address the surge in attacks.
During Sunday’s meeting, Shah stressed the importance of seamless coordination among security agencies, identifying vulnerable areas, and addressing their security concerns to counter the latest terror threat. He assured that the Center is committed to eradicating terrorism, stating that “the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in its decisive phase.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs stated, quoting Shah: “Recent incidents show that terrorism has been forced to shrink from highly organised acts of terrorist violence to a mere proxy war. We are determined to root it out as well.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior counterterrorism official stated that following the meeting, “counterterrorism operations will intensify in the coming days to track down absconding foreign terrorists and their local supporters.”
Government’s commitment to the Zero-Terror Plan
Prime Minister Modi led a high-level review meeting, instructing security forces to deploy comprehensive counterterror measures, aligning with the Zero-Terror Plan to address the surge in attacks.
Intelligence agencies estimate that 70–80 foreign fighters have infiltrated over the past few months. In addition to reviewing the terror incidents in Jammu, Shah discussed preparations for the Amarnath pilgrimage, set to begin on June 29. He directed security agencies to remain vigilant, ensure adequate personnel deployment, and maintain perfect inter-agency coordination with a well-established response mechanism. Shah emphasized the government’s commitment to providing a convenient and hassle-free experience for devotees.
Currently, approximately 70 battalions (around 70,000 personnel) of central paramilitary forces are stationed in Union territory. The Home Minister, aiming for comprehensive security, has emphasized the need for adequate arrangements along the entire Yatra route and transit routes from the airport and railway station to the base camp. Discussions are ongoing to finalize deployment, with an anticipated addition of 450–500 additional companies of central forces, as in previous years, exclusively for securing the Amarnath Yatra this year.
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