'Ecosystem That Aids Terrorism In J&K Has To Be dismantled': Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir that aids, abets and sustains the terrorist-separatist campaign to the detriment of the well-being of common people requires to be dismantled.

At a meeting here, Shah reviewed the functioning of the security grid and various aspects related to security in Jammu and Kashmir and gave directions to officials to follow the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism.

"A terror ecosystem comprising elements that aid, abet and sustain the terrorist-separatist campaign to the detriment of the well-being of common people requires to be dismantled," Shah was quoted as saying in an official statement.

At the meeting, Shah also reviewed various developmental works being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and emphasised on timely completion of projects.

He also directed officials to strive to achieve 100

percent saturation of beneficiaries under various schemes

and ensure the benefits of development reach every section of society.

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, senior officials of the home ministry, intelligence agencies, paramilitary forces and officers from Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting.

The pre-scheduled meeting was held on a day four heavily-armed terrorists, who came from Pakistan, were killed in a "chance encounter" in Jammu.

Early this month, there were reports that people from the Kashmiri Pandit community working in the valley were in a state of panic after a terrorist group released a "hit

list" of 56 employees from among them.

A blog linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, published the list of 56 Kashmiri Pandit employees who were recruited under the Prime Minister's Rehabilitation Package (PMRP), and warned of mounting attacks on them.

In the aftermath of targeted killings by terrorists, several Kashmiri Pandits employed in the valley under the PMRP have shifted to Jammu and are on a protest for over 200 days demanding their relocation.

The government had informed Parliament that as many as 118 civilians, including five Kashmiri Pandits and 16 other Hindus and Sikhs, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 till

July 2022.