In a high-level meeting chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Srinagar with security officials and bureaucrats on Thursday, he asked the Security Forces to strengthen the anti-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir while asking them to ensure zero collateral damage. Doval was in Srinagar for the second time since the abrogation of Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of the separate status.
Officers from Army, Central Reserve Police Force, State Police and other agencies attended this high-level meeting held in Srinagar. Doval, who is back in the national capital after holding a series of meeting with security functionaries and office-bearers in Srinagar from Wednesday, had reportedly asked the officials to work towards creating such an atmosphere in the Kashmir Valley that the common man could follow his routine properly without being intimidated by terrorist groups.
According to the reports, the NSA took stock of the situation and directed the forces to expedite their counter-terrorism operations. However, Ajit Doval also cautioned the forces to protect the lives and property of the citizens in their campaign against terrorists. Besides, Doval also reviewed the developmental projects for people and urged officials for their expeditious implementation, which comprises giving best health care, the shipment of apple boxes out of the Kashmir Valley and other such things.
This was the second visit to the valley by the NSA after the central government revoked Article 370 on August 5 and bifurcated the state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Both Union Territories will come into existence on October 31 and the first Lieutenant Governor of both the regions will take oath on the same day. On his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, the NSA encamped here for 11 days to review the security situation and interact with the locals to understand the difficulties faced by them.