SRINAGAR — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday afternoon arrived in the summer capital, Srinagar, on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the overall security situation and arrangements put in place for the annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine commencing July 1.
Shah, who is on his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir after assuming the post of Union Home Minister, is also expected to review the developmental work done during the last one-year in the state.
Official sources said that the Union Home Minister, who was accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, was received by high ranking officials of Army, CRPF and police, besides civil administration at Technical Airport in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, unprecedented security arrangements have been put in place in and around SK International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the bank of world famous Dal Lake, where Shah will chair series of meetings. Civilian traffic has been restricted from plying on Boulevard and Gupkar roads on Wednesday and Thursday.
Security forces have been deployed in strength along the Boulevard and Gupkar road stretches, which have been closed with barbed wires and vehicles for civilian movement. Security forces holding automatic weapons could be seen patrolling Dal Lake on Shikaras and motorboats. Paramilitary and state police personnel have also been deployed in strength in many sensitive areas in the city, including Airport road.
Shah will chair a meeting of the Unified Command — which comprises officers of the Army, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the state police — to review security arrangements put in place for a peaceful Amarnath Yatra.
“Discussion will also be held about counter militancy operations and overall security situation in the state,” official sources said. They said that the Home Minister will later in the day review the progress of development projects undertaken by the Centre. “Shah is also expected to visit Amarnath holy cave shrine,” they said, adding the Home Minister will have a separate meeting with Governor Satya Pal Malik.
He is likely to meet BJP leaders besides a group of panches and sarpanches in the valley. However, he will not be visiting Jammu and Ladakh this time. Traffic Police Srinagar on Tuesday issued traffic advisory on restrictions of vehicular movement to SKICC on Wednesday and Thursday.
The visit of Shah comes at a time when Governor Malik has announced that moderate Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also ready for holding talks.
Welcome the Mirwaiz statement on talks, Malik had said there is now change in the mood in the valley as everyone has realised that nothing can be achieved through violence.
According to the advisory, no motorist shall be allowed to ply towards Nishat, Shalimar, Harwan and adjacent areas via Badyari Chowk and Gupkar. “Similarly no traffic shall be allowed to ply from Ram Munshibagh towards Grand Place and shall be diverted towards Dalgate-Khayam for their respective destinations on 26 and 27 June,” it said. (Agencies)