NEW DELHI: After the suspension of the Ramzan ceasefire in J&K and with no compulsion of coalition politics restraining the Centre, the upcoming stint of governor’s rule in the state is expected to give security forces a free hand to resume counter-terror ops. J&K police, which was allegedly being forced by local politicians to adopt a soft approach towards separatists, can now be expected to act more independently, a senior central government functionary told TOI.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level review meeting on Tuesday to take stock of the security scenario. “The meeting, attended by national security adviser Ajit Doval and senior officers, reviewed the fallout of the BJP-PDP divorce on the law and order as well as militancy front. With the cordon-and-search operations having been resumed after the truce, the topmost consideration remains security of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra,” said an officer.

Sources said the high political cost of a terror attack on the Amarnath yatra was a major consideration that led BJP to quit the coalition. “There are inputs about terrorist outfits targeting yatris. The chances of an IED attack are high… Were an IED blast to take place, there would be a national fallout for BJP over its decision to stay with PDP despite the ‘failed’ truce. Under governor’s rule, the Centre can initiate tough security measures without being weighed down by coalition compulsions,” said an officer.

Governor NN Vohra, an old hand in Kashmir, is set to continue despite his second term due to end later this month. He has presided over governor’s rule thrice — in 2008, 2015 and 2016. Sources said Vohra, who as governor is also chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, has been requested to stay on till the annual pilgrimage is over.

The fall of the PDP-BJP government has cast uncertainty over the assignment of Centre’s special representative for J&K dialogue, Dineshwar Sharma. An MHA official said his efforts to engage all sections in J&K shall continue, though he would be consulting the governor now instead of the CM.