In maiden visit to J&K since August 2019, Amit Shah asks reasons for prolonged anti-terror ops
Soon after landing at Srinagar airport, Home Minister straightway visits family of martyred cop
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived Srinagar on Saturday on his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, reviewed the security situation and the measures taken by the UT administration to taken to combat terrorism in the Valley.
At the high level security review meeting held at Raj Bhawan which was attended by UT’s Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and top officials of the civil administration, besides senior officials from Army, CRPF, police and other agencies, the Home Minister was briefed about the counter infiltration measures taken to wipe out terrorism from J&K as also to stop infiltration from across the border.
The Union Home Minister’s visit comes in the backdrop of the killing of 11 civilians during the current month alone including five labourers from Bihar and three minority community members including two teachers and a well known chemist in Srinagar.
Sources said that Shah also asked for reasons on prolonged encounters and anti-terror operations.
Pointing out that the government was concerned over the recent killing of minorities and non-locals, sources said that security agencies apprised the Home Minister of the reasons behind rising radicalization and terrorism despite intensified security measures and extensive public outreach efforts by the government.
He will be visiting Jammu on Sunday where he will address a public rally. During his three day visit to the UT, he will also flag off te inaugural Srinagar-Sharjah flight.
Earlier Shad was received at the Srinagar airport by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and other senior officials. From the airport, he went straight to the house of Inspector Parvaiz Ahmad in Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar city. The police officer was shot dead on June 22 when he was returning home after offering prayers at a local mosque.
Security was beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Shah’s visit that comes in the wake of the spate of civilians, particularly non-locals and minorities, being killed. Additional forces have been deployed, particularly in the city, officials said.
