On February 27, 2026, Nalin Prabhat, Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir, chaired a joint security review meeting to assess the security situation and operational readiness in the frontier districts of Handwara and Kupwara. The review, attended by senior police and security officials, stressed on a zero‑tolerance approach toward terrorism and emphasized on the need for proactive and intelligence‑driven operations.
Context and Background
DGP Nalin Prabhat, a senior Indian Police Service officer appointed to lead the Jammu and Kashmir Police in October 2024, has reiterated a firm action against terrorism in the Union Territory. Before his current posting, he served as Director General of the National Security Guard earlier in 2024.
Over recent months, Prabhat has called for a decisive kinetic operations against Pakistan‑linked terrorists and enhancing intelligence capabilities to dismantle terror networks across Jammu and Kashmir. In a separate security review meeting on February 24, 2026, he urged security forces to strengthen area domination and intelligence grids to counter militant threats.
Security Review in Handwara and Kupwara
The February 27 meeting brought together senior police leadership from both districts, including:
Special DG (Coordination) S.J.M. Geelani
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir V.K. Birdi
Deputy Inspector General (DIG), North Kashmir Range Maqsood‑ul‑Zaman
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) officers and other field commanders from Handwara and Kupwara.
The senior officers provided detailed briefings on the current security environment, focusing on:
- Ongoing counter‑terror operations
- Anti‑narcotics activities
- Measures to curb terror financing and networks of adverse elements
- Border sensitivities and area domination plans
- Surveillance systems and tactical preparedness
“Zero Tolerance” and Operational Directives
DGP Prabhat conducted a minute-by-minute review of operational strategies and urged a decisive, intelligence‑led approach to counter terrorism. He highlighted the importance of:
- Proactive disruption of terror threats
- Sustained action against individuals aiding, abetting, or facilitating terrorism
- Enhancement of human intelligence (HUMINT) networks
- Strengthening of technical surveillance capabilities
- Seamless coordination among the Police, Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other agencies
- Real‑time information sharing to pre‑empt terrorist actions
Field Feedback and Future Preparedness
The meeting also provided an opportunity for officers present to share field‑level feedback, operational challenges, and suggestions to bolster the security infrastructure.
Broader Security Dynamics
The security review in Handwara and Kupwara occurs against the backdrop of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts across Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies remain on high alert along the Line of Control (LoC) and in hinterland areas, continuing efforts to dismantle terror ecosystems and curb infiltration.
In previous months, Prabhat has reinforced the need for community engagement, intelligence sharing, and coordinated action to maintain long‑term peace and stability. His consistent emphasis on aggressive yet intelligence‑driven operations reflects an operational doctrine focused on neutralizing militant threats while preventing civilian harm and maintaining robust security environments.
More on insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir:
PRAHAAR — India’s First National Counter-Terrorism Policy: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/prahaar-indias-first-national-counter-terrorism-policy/
Operation Trashi: Precision Strike in Kishtwar Signals Continued Counterterror Momentum: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/operation-trashi-precision-strike-in-kishtwar-signals-continued-counterterror-momentum/
From Gaza to Kashmir: Jihadist convergence of Hamas and Pakistan based Terror groups: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/from-gaza-to-kashmir-jihadist-convergence-of-hamas-and-pakistan-based-terror-groups/
White-collared terrorists and their Pakistan-loving Kashmiri predecessors: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/white-collar-terrorists-and-their-pakistan-loving-kashmiri-predecessors/
Banned Outfits Targeted as J&K Police Raids Multiple Locations In Kashmir: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/banned-outfits-targeted-as-jk-police-raids-multiple-locations-in-kashmir/
Turkey’s Transnational Jihad: Proxy Warfare, SADAT and Terror Financing: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/turkeys-transnational-jihad-proxy-warfare-sadat-and-terror-financing/
