STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Following series of terror strikes on security camps and army convoys along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and in the hinterland, the top brass of various agencies including State police have decided to redraw their strategy to counter fresh threats of terror strikes.
Recent assessment of the various intelligence agencies has already predicted spike in number of terror related incidents.
The security forces are already facing a tough challenge of containing sudden spike in incidents of violence in different parts of the Kashmir Valley.
Incidents of attacks on security forces and their camps, grenade lobbying on police posts/stations, random targeting of convoy vehicles, targeted killings and looting of weapons from policemen have witnessed an upward trend compared to previous year.
With Amarnath yatra scheduled to begin from June 29 the security forces are racing against time to consolidate their domination in areas falling under the yatra route.
However, securing Jammu Srinagar National Highway, especially beyond Qazigund leading up to different base camps in south Kashmir is turning out to be a major headache for the security forces on ground zero.
Due to vulnerability of the certain patches between Bijbhera and Pampore, senior officers of the security grid have decided to deploy additional troops to physically dominate every inch of the road side in order to prevent attacks on convoys of security forces.
Security forces are well aware of the fact that highly trained foreign terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba have carved out safe hideouts in the area to target convoys of security forces at will.
The security forces are also in the process of finalising deployment pattern of para military and State police in and around different base camps being set up for Amarnath pilgrims.
This year the State government had requisitioned more than 20,000 paramilitary troops for area domination and patrol duties along the yatra route.
The security grid has also suggested to enhance electronic surveillance in these base camps to keep a strict vigil on the movement of suspected anti-nationals.
The army jawans will remain deployed in the outer cordon while the paramilitary and the State police would look after the camp security and frisking of pilgrims before gaining entry inside the base camps.
