Review of J&K security soon

NEW DELHI: The Centre, worried over adverse fallout of the recent attacks in J&K on tourism, has swung into action and is likely to hold a high-level security review in Srinagar next week aimed at further strengthening the counter-terrorism grid.

The meeting, likely to be chaired by Union home secretary VK Duggal or special secretary (J&K) in the MHA, will go into the possible terror strategy behind the latest strikes on tourists and the likely damage to the tourism industry, besides discussing the corrective action to make the Valley more secure for tourists.

Also, given that the Amarnath yatra, due to start on June 11, is seen as a major security challenge in the wake of targeting of tourists by the terror outfits, the meeting — to be attended by senior MHA and J&K government officials, besides top brass of the Army, intelligence agencies and Central para-military forces — will also review the security arrangements for the two-month long pilgrimage.

The Central and state security agencies are extremely concerned at the large-scale cancellations of tourist bookings in the Valley in the wake of the two attacks on tourists over the last week. Not only do they fear a significant dip in tourist volumes this year but are also viewing the upcoming Amarnath yatra as a major security challenge.

Given that the terror strikes against tourists have been concentrated in Srinagar so far, the CRPF, in charge of security in the J&K Capital, has already fine-tuned their counter-strategy. Vigil at all the entry points to Srinagar town has been stepped up and they are being manned on a 24-hour basis.

At the same time, cordon and search operations within the town have been intensified. The emphasis, according to a senior CRPF official, will however be on making such searches intelligence-based rather than random, since the former would involve less inconvenience to the local residents.

Intelligence agencies see the attack on tourists to Srinagar as a desperate act on part of the jihad outfits, who are disturbed at the rising tourist volumes since it is one of the strongest indicators of normalcy in the Valley.

Over the last 2-3 years, the tourist traffic to J&K has gone up manifold. Bookings at the beginning of this season were also heavy.

According to a senior intelligence official, the terrorist groups may be viewing this, besides the high turnout in recent Baderwah bye-poll and holding of J&K roundtable on May 24 and 25 despite their opposition, as a setback to militancy and are now targeting tourists to destroy any notions of normalcy returning to J&K.

There is also a view that the terrorist may be wanting to create communal disturbances elsewhere in the country by targeting tourists from a particular community belonging to other states.

The Amarnath yatra is now a prime concern for both the Centre and the J&K government.