Srinagar: Defence minister Arun Jaitley and Army chief Bipin Rawat on Wednesday chaired a high-level security meeting in Srinagar in which the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) was discussed and commanders were asked to remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across the LoC, media reports said on Thursday. This was the first such meeting in Srinagar in recent months since tension has escalated along the LoC and in south Kashmir, the report said.

An Army spokesperson said that the commanders apprised the Defence Minister of various measures taken to strengthen the counter-infiltration grid along the LoC, the reports added. “He was also briefed on the close coordination among all the government agencies towards bringing back normalcy in the region,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

He said that Jaitley lauded valour, sacrifice and patriotic fervour of soldiers serving in challenging situations for national integrity, which the entire country was proud of, the reports said. “(The) Defence Minister urged all to ensure the safety of the innocent people while dealing firmly with the inimical elements.”

Jaitley was also briefed about the situation in the four districts of south Kashmir, where many local youths have joined militancy, the reports said, adding that the cordon and search operations were discussed as well.