J&K Lieutenant-Governor directs the police to strengthen security around key infrastructure projects and protect workers; security forces remain on high alert to prevent further incidents
One of the two attackers who opened fire at 12 civilians and left seven dead in the Gagangeer area of Ganderbal in Kashmir on October 20 has been caught on camera. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant-Governor directed the J&K Police to beef up security for infrastructure projects.
Preliminary reports suggested one of the attackers wielding a rifle barged into the campsite of a tunnel project. He sprayed bullets at the workers and a doctor at the under-construction strategic tunnel that connects the Valley with the Union Territory of Ladakh. The camera installed at the construction site captured the face of one of the two attackers.
Security agencies have failed to trace the militants after the attack. They suspect the attackers could be hiding in the flanks of the thick forest ranges adjacent to the attack site.
Meanwhile, security has been put on high alert in the Valley after the attack. This is the first such major attack in J&K since the Centre ended J&K’s special status in 2019. Earlier, militants had carried out a series of targeted attacks on minorities and non-local workers. However, an infrastructure project and its workers have come under attack for the first time.
In the wake of the attack, the Lieutenant-Governor on Wednesday held a security review meeting at the Raj Bhavan.
It was attended by Director-General of Police Nalin Prabhat; Principal Secretary, Home Department, Chandraker Bharti; Additional Director-General of Police (Law & Order) Vijay Kumar; Additional Director-General of Police, CID, Nitish Kumar; Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi; Principal Secretary to Lieutenant-Governor Mandeep Bhandari; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri; and other senior officials of the J&K Police.
The meeting laid thrust on upscaling the security of infrastructure projects in Kashmir.
The police have also been directed to conduct security audits of infrastructure projects, set up round-the-clock checkpoints at the strategic points, and increase night patrolling and area domination.
“The police must ensure a robust security, intensified intelligence grid and well-planned joint operation with Army and other security agencies to eliminate terrorism. The entire terror ecosystem including perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists requires to be completely dismantled,” the Lieutenant-Governor said.