October 11, 2025 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a critical security review meeting for Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi yesterday afternoon at 3 PM, directing full operational freedom to security forces to crush terrorism in the region. The 90-minute session at the MHA headquarters involved top brass from the Army, CRPF, BSF, J&K Police, and intelligence agencies, emphasizing enhanced coordination to counter rising infiltration bids along the LoC and IB. Shah, per MHA statements released around 5 PM, stressed: “Security forces have full freedom to act decisively; ensure zero tolerance for terror networks.”
The review follows a spike in encounters – yesterday’s Rajouri operation killing two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants – and SIA raids in seven districts targeting overground workers. Officials discussed deploying AI drones in 60 forward posts and community policing in border villages like Rajouri and Samba, where 25% more incidents were reported this quarter. For Jammu’s residents – from Hindu traders in Raghunath Bazaar facing price hikes due to delayed supplies, to Muslim farmers in Akhnoor rebuilding post-floods (150 lives lost in August) – it’s a reassurance amid daily fears. Baldev Singh, 55, a Sikh driver from Janipur ferrying goods to the border, said over chai near the Tawi bridge this morning: “More patrols mean safer roads; my son’s in the BSF – we need this.”
Broader impacts: The meet ties to PoK unrest (nine dead last week), risking spillover. Shah urged faster rehab for flood-hit areas, allocating Rs 100 crore more for Jammu division. CM Omar Abdullah, briefed post-meet, tweeted at 6 PM: “United against threats; protect all communities.” For locals like Rehana Akhtar, 38, a Muslim weaver from Kathua: “Floods took our homes; terror takes peace – balance both.”