Army Chief meets gov, CM & generals on Valley’s security

Srinagar: The Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat, on Tuesday rushed here to review the security situation in the backdrop of the terror attack in which seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed and nineteen others were wounded, three of them seriously, in southern Anantnag district on Monday night.

He closeted with senior Army commanders at the 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar’s Badami Bagh Cantonment and held separate meetings with Governor, N.N. Vohra, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti and the Director General of Police, Shesh Paul Vaid to discuss the issues concerning the annual pilgrimage to the cave-shrine of Amarnath.

He was to attend a security review meeting convened by the Governor who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board at Raj Bhavan here in the forenoon. But his flight to Srinagar was delayed reportedly due to inclement weather. He later called on the Governor and the two discussed the measures being initiated to strengthen the security cover for the pilgrims and ensure no such incident reoccur in the remaining   27 days of the yatra. He also called on the CM, a defence spokesman confirmed.

Speaking on the occasion, the Army Chief “condemned the dastardly act of terror against innocent Amarnath pilgrims and indicated that the security forces will counter this menace with greater resolve”.

The spokesman added, “He exhorted the commanders and troops to keep up the pressure on the terrorists as had been witnessed in recent successful operations in the Valley. He complimented the troops for the excellent operations along the line of control, wherein several infiltration attempts were foiled”.

The CRPF Director General, R.R. Bhatnagar also flew in here from Delhi to review the security situation with the officers from the force which played crucial role towards security the Amarnath yatra. He also called on the Governor and the Chief Minister, official sources said.