J&K L‑G Manoj Sinha Calls for Heightened Vigilance, Unveils Stronger Counter‑Terror Measures

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday chaired a high‑level security review meeting in Srinagar at a time when Jammu and Kashmir—particularly the Kashmir Valley—has witnessed a worrying revival of terror activity.

The recent killing of a police official in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and the targeted attack on two brick‑kiln labourers from Chhattisgarh in neighbouring Kulgam have alarmed security agencies in both Srinagar and New Delhi. These incidents, coupled with renewed threats issued to Kashmiri Pandit employees working under the PM Package, have prompted an intensified focus on counter‑terror preparedness across the Union Territory.

During the meeting, the Lt. Governor assessed the overall security apparatus and strategic readiness of forces operating in J&K. He directed security agencies to maintain sustained pressure on terror networks, intensify area‑domination operations and adopt a more aggressive counter‑terror strategy to neutralise emerging threats. Sinha emphasised that the recent attacks underline the need for heightened vigilance, seamless inter‑agency coordination and proactive ground‑level action.

Underscoring the importance of public trust in strengthening the security grid, the Lt. Governor instructed police officials to foster direct engagement with citizens. He called for designated hours at police stations for public interaction and grievance redressal, stressing that transparent, impartial and sensitive handling of complaints is essential for maintaining confidence in law‑enforcement institutions. “The police must maintain a strong and continuous engagement with the public. Every genuine grievance must be addressed with sensitivity and every investigation must be conducted with absolute fairness, transparency and impartiality,” Sinha said.

Reviewing police station‑level functioning, he reiterated the need for absolute professionalism in investigations and directed officers to ensure that public outreach remains consistent, especially in vulnerable and sensitive areas. The Lt. Governor also commended the J&K Police and other security agencies for their recent successes against drug smugglers, noting that narco‑terror networks continue to pose a serious challenge. He instructed officials to intensify operations targeting these networks and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms against emerging digital threats.

Highlighting the growing misuse of cyberspace and social media platforms for anti‑national propaganda, misinformation and online blackmailing, Sinha directed agencies to maintain close surveillance of digital ecosystems. He stressed that cyber vigilance is now an indispensable part of counter‑terror operations, especially as terror handlers increasingly rely on online channels for recruitment, radicalisation and coordination.

Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP Nalin Prabhat, Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti, Special DG Coordination S.J.M. Gillani, ADGP CID M.K. Sinha, IGP Kashmir Sujit Kumar, IGP Jammu Tejinder Singh, IGP Crime Branch Sarah Rizvi, Divisional Commissioners and DIGs, briefed the Lt. Governor on the security situation in their respective jurisdictions. They provided updates on anti‑terror operations, law‑and‑order management, drug trafficking patterns and other emerging challenges, an official spokesperson said here.

The meeting also held detailed deliberations on a wide range of critical issues, including the safety of vulnerable communities, security of migrant workers, protection of minority employees and the need for enhanced surveillance in districts that have recently witnessed terror incidents. The Lt. Governor instructed all officers to maintain heightened operational vigilance and ensure seamless coordination between police, paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies to safeguard peace and stability in the Union Territory.