J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, on Friday announced the reopening of 12 tourist destinations across the region which remained closed for months after Pahalgam terror attack in April this year. The announcement was preceded by his over two hour security review meeting of Unified Headquarters at Rajbhawan in Srinagar.
The decision follows a comprehensive security review and discussions in the UHQ meeting. These sites had been temporarily closed after the Pahalgam terror attack on tourists on April 22, which prompted heightened security measures.Pertinently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also pitched this demand in an event of tourism in which he said promotion of tourism and closure of key destinations across Kashmir Valley cannot go together.
Seven of the destinations are located in the Kashmir Division, while five fall under the Jammu Division. Among the notable sites reopening in Kashmir are Aru Valley, the Rafting Point in Yanner, Akkad Park, Padshahi Park in Bijbehara, Dara Shikoh Garden in Anantnag, Kaman Post, and Eco-Park Khadniyar in Baramulla. In Jammu, Dagan Top in Ramban, Dhaggar in Kathua, Chinkah in Reasi, Shiv Cave in Salal, and Padri in Doda will welcome visitors again.
Authorities have assured that security arrangements will be strengthened at all these locations to ensure the safety of tourists and residents alike.The reopening, set for Monday, September 29, is expected to boost tourism in the region while providing a sense of normalcy after the earlier disruptions.
Meanwhile, the security review marathon meeting, which lasted more than two hours, discussed the situation across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with special focus on counter infiltration and counter terrorism operations, they said.Sinha congratulated security forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Intelligence agencies for the recent successful anti-terror operations in the Union Territory, an official spokesperson said.
"War against terrorism is not over yet. Kinetic and non-kinetic operations must continue. We must maintain the momentum and take stringent action against terrorism and its entire ecosystem," Sinha told the officers, during the meeting.He directed the security apparatus for continuous improvement and to proactively adapt to evolving threats. The lieutenant governor called for "Whole of Government Approach" for effectively tackling radicalisation and drug menace.
The meeting was attended by Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and General Officer Commanding (GoC) 15 Corps Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava.
GoC 16 Corps Lieutenant General P K Mishra, GoC 9 Corps Lieutenant General Rajan Sharawat, Air Vice Marshal Vikas Sharma, Army Ordnance Corps, Jammu and Kashmir, S J M Gillani, Special Director General Coordination PHQ, Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti and Additional DGP CID Nitish Kumar were also among other officers present.
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