Jammu, Feb 4 (JKNS): Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to undertake a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from February 5 to 7, during which he will review the security situation and assess developmental initiatives in both Jammu and Kashmir regions.
Sources told news agency JKNS that Amit Shah will reach Jammu at around 5 PM on February 5 and will proceed directly to the Raj Bhawan, where he is scheduled to meet political leaders, same evening.
On the morning of February 6, the Home Minister will visit the International Border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district to inspect newly installed surveillance and security gadgets deployed by the BSF to curb infiltration attempts. Later in the day, he will chair a high-level security review meeting at Raj Bhawan, Jammu.
Sources said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, senior officials of the Union Home Ministry, heads of paramilitary forces, top officers of civil and police administration, and intelligence agencies from Jammu and Kashmir will attend the meeting.
On February 7, Shah will travel to Srinagar, where he will launch various development projects for Jammu and Kashmir and review the progress of key infrastructure and welfare initiatives. He is scheduled to leave Srinagar for Raipur, Chhattisgarh, later in the afternoon.
This will be Amit Shah’s second high-level security review of Jammu and Kashmir in less than a month. He had earlier chaired a similar meeting in New Delhi on January 8, which was followed by visits of Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and senior paramilitary officials to Jammu on January 14 and 15.
Sources further said the Home Ministry is concerned over the presence of foreign terrorists in the upper reaches of several districts of the Jammu region, including Kathua, Doda, Kishtwar and Udhampur. Directions have already been issued to security agencies to intensify joint operations to neutralise the threat.
Search operations are currently underway in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district, upper reaches of Billawar in Kathua and other vulnerable pockets. An Army soldier was martyred and seven others injured in a recent encounter in Chatroo, while a top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander was earlier eliminated in Billawar.
Confirming the visit, as per news agency JKNS, Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma told reporters outside the Assembly complex in Jammu that the Home Minister will be visiting both Jammu and Srinagar during his tour. Sharma said Amit Shah will first arrive in Jammu, where he will visit two to three locations and chair high-level security review meetings with concerned agencies.
He added that in Kashmir as well, the Union Home Minister will hold meetings to review ongoing developmental works and evaluate the overall progress of projects in the Valley. Sharma said the visit assumes significance in view of the prevailing security scenario and the Centre’s focus on development and governance in the Union Territory.
During the January 8 security review meeting, Shah had assured security forces of full support and resources to achieve the goal of a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating the Government of India’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and its commitment to lasting peace in the region. (JKNS)
