HM reviews security, pushes de-radicalisation, youth outreach in J-K

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday chaired a high-level security review meeting in Jammu to assess the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir, calling for innovative measures to reinforce the security grid while pushing de-radicalisation and youth outreach programmes. Shah said the terrorist ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, nurtured by elements hostile to the country, has been virtually eliminated through the coordinated efforts of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. He directed all security agencies to remain vigilant and continue working in a coordinated manner to maintain the gains made in recent days and achieve the goal of a "terror-free Jammu and Kashmir" as soon as possible. Shah assured that all necessary resources would be provided to support these efforts. 
The meeting assumes significance amid stepped-up anti-terror operations that led to neutralisation of four hardened Pakistan-native terrorists linked with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) following nearly a dozen encounters in Kathua, Udhampur and Kishtwar districts of Jammu region over the past two weeks. He reiterated that all resources will be made available to achieve the goal of a "terror-free" Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
The over three-hour meeting included the participation of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and other senior officials from the security establishment at Lok Bhawan, the officials said. Besides the Lt Governor and Army chief, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding Jammu-based White Knight Corps Lt Gen P K Mishra, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Praveen Kumar, Central Reserve Police Force DG G P Singh, and other senior military, police, civil and intelligence officers attended the meeting at the Lok Bhavan, officials said.
An official statement said the home minister praised the efforts of security agencies in dismantling the terrorist ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah noted that de-radicalisation efforts have been a major success in accelerating the progress of the government's vision of a terrorism-free Jammu and Kashmir, and directed further steps to engage the youth. He also emphasised the need to develop the start-up ecosystem and sports sector to engage them in income-generating activities.
Later, the Home Minister distributed job letters to the families of several police personnel who lost their lives in the fight against terrorism at a function held in Lok Bhawan, providing compassionate appointment letters to them.