Srinagar: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with Army chief General Bipin Rawat met Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar to review the security situation in the state where jolted by strict security forces’ offensive, terrorists have started targeting their families. 

Officials in the governor house revealed that the defence minister and Army chief discussed various important inter-related issues concerning the effective management of internal and external security, particularly in the context of increasing attempts at infiltration and the ongoing anti-terrorist operations with the governor.

This important meeting comes days after terror group Hizbul Mujahideen issued a series of threats to civilians. Hizbul has been pushed to the forefront of action by handlers across the border to fuel unrest in the Valley by targeting innocent families of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) personnel. The meeting lasted for 30 minutes in Raj Bhawan.

Threats from terror outfit Hizbul commanders Riyaz Naikoo was also discussed during the meeting. Naikoo has been recruiting local youth for militancy as cross LoC infiltration of large groups has come down due to vigil army deployment on the LoC.

Discussions on the urban local bodies and panchayat elections which will be conducted in the months of October – December this year, also took place in the meeting held at Srinagar.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with the Army chief, also visited the forward areas along the LoC in the Valley and met several jawans.