Amit Shah reviews security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on his maiden official visit

Signifying the importance given to Jammu and Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday chose the state for his maiden visit after assuming office and reviewed the security situation. Breaking away from protocol, Governor Satya Pal Malik, accompanied by his advisors and some top officials of the state administration, received Shah at the airport, officials said. Governors in the past have normally only received the prime minister while visiting the state.

Immediately after his arrival, the Home minister, who is on a two-day visit, chaired a high-level meeting of civil administration officials and top bosses of various security agencies in the state, the officials said.

Malik, his advisor incharge Home Affairs K Vijay Kumar, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, state Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, DGP Dilbagh Singh and divisional commissioners from the Valley and Jammu were present in the meeting, they said.

Union Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah chaired a meeting in Srinagar to review the security arrangements for the holy Amarnath Yatra. pic.twitter.com/RjEhmSzptO

— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) June 26, 2019

The Home minister was briefed about the overall security situation in the state, especially in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, the officials said.

The officials also informed Shah about various steps taken to eliminate the top militant leadership, while ensuring that the ultras are not able to carry out Pulwama-like attacks, they said. Shah was also briefed about the steps taken for ensuring smooth and safe conduct of the annual Amarnath Yatra, which is due to commence on July 1, the officials said.

Amit Shah also conducted a review meeting of the security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra.  After detailed deliberations, the Minister laid emphasis on various points critical for the security of the Yatra:

• Amit Shah directed all security agencies to be fully alert and take all preventive steps to ensure violence free Yatra.

• Strict enforcement of the SOPs should be ensured.  Senior officers should personally supervise the arrangements.

• Forces should ensure best possible optimum use of latest technologies and the gadgets not only for the security of the Yatra but also to facilitate the movement of the devotees and the tourists.  He also specifically drew attention of the Forces towards anti-sabotage as well as anti-subversion drills and the access control procedures.

• Amit Shah underlined the importance of the standard operating procedure for convoy movement and specifically harped on the points that:-

1. Timely dispatch of convoys should be ensured.
2. After the cut-off timings barricades should be erected at suitable locations and no differentiation should be made between Yatris and Tourists.
3. Barricades be used at all lateral entry points during convoy movement.
4. All lateral points should be manned 24x7.

• Besides attending to medical emergency, preparedness must also be ensured to deal with any type of calamity or contingency.  Specialized units and trained personnel should be in place with due focus on the prescribed drills for the purpose.

• Best possible facilities should be provided in the base camps.

• While laying emphasis on the essential facilities for those deputed on the arrangements of the Yatra, he underscored the need for all the duty personnel to ensure proper conduct all throughout.

• There should be no complacency on part of security forces or duty staff at any point of time during whole Yatra period.

• Whereas he advised all the security forces and various agencies to continue taking strict action against miscreants, Hon’ble Minister also reiterated the need to cover all the sensitive and vulnerable places including possible points of infiltration all throughout the State, in order to obviate any type of risk to the Yatra.

The Home minister is slated to visit the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, they said. He is also scheduled to meet the families of policemen killed in militant attacks in the state.