Army Redeployment to Ladakh Leaves Security Gaps in Jammu, Says CM Abdullah
Srinagar, Mar 29, KNT: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday acknowledged that the shifting of army personnel from Jammu to Ladakh, in response to Chinese incursions, had created security vulnerabilities in the region. He stressed the need for additional measures to strengthen security in Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah made these remarks while visiting the families of four police personnel who lost their lives in a fierce encounter with infiltrating militants in Kathua’s Safiyan forest on Thursday. The fallen officers—Balvinder Singh, Tariq Ahmad, Jaswant Singh, and Jagbir Singh—were hailed for their bravery and sacrifice.
Two militants, suspected to be Pakistani nationals associated with the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit, were also neutralized during the gunfight. Security forces have since launched an extensive combing operation to track down any remaining members of the group.
After meeting the bereaved families in Kathua, Reasi, and Jammu districts, Abdullah expressed solidarity with them, stating that their sacrifices would not be forgotten. “We owe a great debt to our brave police officers who laid down their lives. Their courage has saved countless innocent people,” he posted on X.
Addressing reporters in Reasi, the chief minister acknowledged that militancy-related incidents in the Jammu region had been on the rise over the past few years. Citing past attacks, including one targeting a passenger bus carrying pilgrims, he attributed the security gaps to the redeployment of troops to Ladakh in response to Chinese military activities.
“When we needed additional forces in Ladakh, we had no choice but to send soldiers from Jammu. The Valley could not be left unguarded, and as a result, Jammu experienced a troop shortage. Now, efforts are underway to gradually fill this gap,” he explained.
He assured the affected families that the compensation cases of the slain policemen would be addressed by the home department once government offices reopened after Eid. “Our aim should be to curb militancy in a way that prevents such sacrifices in the future,” he said.
While hinting that the infiltrators in the recent attack might be part of a new group, Abdullah commended the police for intercepting them before they could cause greater harm. “Had these militants not been stopped, their intentions could have led to devastating consequences. The sacrifice of our four officers has undoubtedly averted a major tragedy,” he remarked.
When questioned about whether militancy had shifted from the Valley to Jammu, Abdullah refrained from making a political statement. “This is not the moment for political debates. Today, my priority is to stand with the grieving families. However, we must take further steps to enhance security in the region,” he said.
