Following a recent terrorist assault in the border area of Poonch that claimed the lives of four soldiers, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here on Wednesday for a day-long tour of Jammu and Kashmir, according to officials. Singh was there to assess the security situation. At the technical airport, Singh was greeted by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, who is the Northern Command's General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, along with Army Chief General Manoj Pande.
The defense minister arrived here and shortly after headed for the Rajouri-Poonch sector, where he was supposed to assess the security conditions and the counterterrorism operation in the area in the wake of the ambush that took place at Dhatyar Morh on December 21 between Dhera Ki Gali and Buffliaz in Poonch. Three civilians, ages 27 to 42, were discovered dead on December 22 during an anti-terror operation in the area. Rumors circulated that they had been apprehended by the military for interrogation after the terrorist attack.
According to the officials, during his journey to Rajouri, the defense minister is probably going to see the families of the people who died. Singh is expected to assess the security situation at a high-level meeting at the Raj Bhawan here after returning from Rajouri, according to the officials. After the defence minister's visit, security has been stepped up even more throughout the Jammu region.
