Guv briefs Modi, HM reviews J&K situation

JAMMU: In fast-paced developments, Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday flew to New Delhi and briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the prevailing situation in the state, their first meeting in the period of one-and-a-half-month since August 5, when Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into two Union Territories.

While the two at the helm of affairs in Centre and State were meeting in south block, another crucial meeting was going in the north block where Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir along with NSA Ajit Doval and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba.

Interestingly, the two meetings came on the day the Supreme Court heard a bunch of petitions against Centre’s recent decisions on Jammu and Kashmir and asked the government to restore normalcy.

While security forces have eased restrictions in many parts of the Valley, normal life continues to be affected for 43rd consecutive day as business establishments remained shut, and mobile communication and internet shut, even though life has returned to normalcy in Jammu and Ladakh regions.

On Monday, Governor Satya Pal Malik called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him about the situation in the state.

“Malik apprised Modi about the prevailing situation of the state, particularly in Kashmir Valley,” sources said.

The upcoming elections to Block Development Councils and the mega-recruitment drive of state government in which around 50000 posts are to be filled was also discussed, they said.

Even as two discussed the prevailing situation, union Home Minister Amit Shah’s focus remained on the security in Jammu and Kashmir amidst reports of around 230 terrorists waiting at terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir to enter the country.

Shah convened a high-level meeting in his office at the north block, which was also attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba among other important officers of MHA.

“During the two-hour long meeting, the home minister was given a detailed presentation on the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly along the International Border and the Line of Control,” official sources informed The News Now.

The home minister took stock of the situation and was briefed about the steps taken to maintain peace along border areas as well as in the Valley, a security official said.
The meeting came amidst report that around 230 terrorists were brought to terror launch pads by Pakistan to push them into Jammu and Kashmir.

To counter Pakistan’s repeated attempts to infiltrate terrorists into the Indian Territory, the Indian Army has intensified its presence along the Line of Control (LoC) in at least two trouble spots along the fence to contain the infiltration attempts by the enemy nation towards the end of this month or in the first week of next month.

Lieutenant General K J S Dhillon, General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps, which looks after the Kashmir Valley, had recently said there have been infiltration attempts from across the border.

"The launchpads in PoK have been full tanzeems including LeT, JeM, Hizbul and Al Badr, frequently come to Pakistani posts. Every day, there is firing. Attempts of infiltration are also made in Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu sectors," he had said.

Normal life remained affected in Kashmir Valley for the 43nd consecutive day on Monday following abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. Most of the shops remained shut and public transport was off the roads.

Internet services remained suspended across all platforms.

While landline across the valley were functional, voice calls on mobile devices were working only in Kupwara and Handwara police districts of north Kashmir.

While most areas of the valley were restriction-free, the deployment of security forces continued on the ground to maintain law and order, another official said.

The restrictions were lifted in phases from many parts of the valley as the situation improved with the passage of time.

Authorities have been imposing restrictions in vulnerable areas of the valley every Friday, apprehending that vested interests might exploit the large gatherings at big mosques and shrines to fuel protests.

Most of the top-level and second rung separatist politicians have been taken into custody while mainstream leaders including three former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have also been either detained or placed under house arrest.