Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Tuesday discussed the security scenario with top functionaries of the Jammu and Kashmir government and senior security and intelligence officials at a special meeting of the Unified Headquarters in Jammu.

The meeting, attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, focused on the marked increase in infiltration attempts from across the International Border and the Line of Control.

Official sources said views were exchanged on shelling by Pakistani troops, last month’s fidayeen attack at Hiranagar and Samba, and the panic among a section of the population residing in border areas.

The high-level Central team included Home Secretary Anil Goswami. R & AW Secretary Alok Joshi, Director Intelligence Bureau Asif Ibrahim, BSF Director-General Subhash Joshi, DG CRPF Dalip Trivedi and Special DG CRPF, D.K. Pathak also attended the meeting. Chief of Staff (Northern Command) and General Officers Commanding 14th, 15th, 16th and 9th Corps, besides a number of Divisional Commanders, represented the Army.

Mr. Shinde, accompanied by Mr. Abdullah, Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday and DGP Ashok Prasad, visited the Hiranagar police station where four policemen and two civilians were killed on September 26 in the decade’s first fidayeen attack. They interacted with the constabulary to boost their morale. Mr Shinde admired the sacrifices made by the J & K Police for the country’s sovereignty and integrity and said that the State police had acted boldly in extremely trying situations.

Mr. Shinde and Mr. Abdullah also visited Samba, where three militants who attacked a military formation, were killed. Four Army personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, also died in the operation.

Later, the Home Minister and Chief Minister interacted with paramilitary force personnel at the headquarters of the BSF’s 68 battalion in Samba. Mr. Shinde described the jawans the real heroes of the nation and appreciated their sacrifices and asserted that the country’s sovereignty and integrity was intact due to their dedication. “They [Pakistani troops] keep you awake for the night but you people retaliate with the best of your courage and give a befitting reply to all aggression. I am here to express the country’s solidarity with you. The whole nation is with you,” the Minister said.

He told journalists that Pakistan’s suggestion of third party intervention on the Kashmir issue was unacceptable. “It has been our unflinching stand since Nehru’s period that Kashmir is India’s integral part,” he said. All issues between India and Pakistan could be resolved bilaterally as per the Simla Agreement.

Earlier, the Minister conducted an aerial survey of the infiltration routes in Basantar, Ujj Nullah, Terni and other areas in the Kathua and Samba districts.