Shah to begin J&K visit today, may chair high security meet

Jammu: With an objective to review ground situation after abrogation of Article 370 as well as to finalize a comprehensive strategy to counter the latest spurt in militant activities, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday will kick start his three day long visit of Jammu and Kashmir.
This is the first visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the centre had abrogated the special status of erstwhile state on August 5, 2019 and immediately after the Kashmir witnessed spurt in violence especially targeted killings of civilians.
“During the three-day long visit, the Union Home Minister will inaugurate developmental projects, will hold security meet, address public gathering as well as also meet the victims of militancy,” an official privy with his visit told The News Now.
“The Home Minister’s visit will play crucial role in curbing the militancy activities. He will hold meeting with top officials besides will boost the morale of security forces to aggressively combat the anti-social elements,” a security official said.
Sharing tentative scheduled, another official said Amit Shah will, upon landing in Srinagar, inaugurate the first international flight between Srinagar and Sharjah in the UAE on Saturday.
The announcement regarding the launch of the direct Srinagar-Sharjah flight had been made by Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia during his trip to Kashmir last month.
“Amit Shah will then visit Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). A cultural programme may take place during which famous Sufi singer Shafi Sopori will perform,” he said.
He informed that at SKICC, Amit Shah will meet at least three families of those killed in the recent civilian killings in Jammu and Kashmir.
The families of Kashmiri Pandit Makhan Lal Bindroo, Supinder Kaur and 25-year-old sub-inspector Arshad Ahmad Mir are likely to be met by the home minister. They were all killed in the recent terror attacks.
“The same day, Union home minister Amit Shah will meet Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and chair a high-level meet with security and intelligence chiefs at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar,” he said.
This unified command meet will be attended by Intelligence Bureau chief Arvind Kumar, Director General (DG) of CRPF Kuldiep Singh, DG of National Security Guard MA Ganapathy, DG of Border Security Force Pankaj Singh, DG of J&K Police Dilbagh Singh, Army commanders and other officials.
The Inspector General of Jammu Police and Inspector General of Kashmir Police will be present.
“On the second day of his visit, Amit Shah will fly to Jammu. He is likely to meet BJP workers at the party office and then hold a public rally in Bhagwati Nagar. He will probably meet various delegations as part of the Centre’s outreach programme,” he informed .
Amit Shah will return to Srinagar and then may fly to the CRPF group centre in Lethpora in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, where he will pay tribute to the martyrs of the Pulwama attack.
On his final day in the union territory, Amit Shah will pay tribute to martyred personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force.
He will go to Srinagar and visit SKICC again. Amit Shah will meet various delegations at the historic centre and hold a public rally, before leaving Srinagar for Delhi in the evening.
Massive security arrangements have been put in place in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of home minister Amit Shah’s visit. Drones, snipers and additional companies of CRPF and BSF have been called to Srinagar.