Shah was received by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Srinagar airport where other senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration were also present, officials said.
This is Shah’s first visit to Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories on August 5, 2019.
Here are the main points-
* Number one on Amit Shah’s agenda was meeting the family of Jammu and Kashmir Police Inspector Parvez Ahmed, who was shot dead by terrorists near his house in Nowgam on the outskirts of the city on June 22, when he entered a mosque in the evening. He was returning after offering prayers. .
* Amit Shah went to the residence of slain Inspector Parvez Ahmed, who was killed by terrorists last month.
* Officials said Shah expressed his condolences to the police officer’s family. He also gave documents of compassionate appointment to the police officer’s widow Fatima Akhtar in a government job.
Shah talks to Fatima Akhtar, wife of slain Inspector Parvez Ahmed
* After visiting Nowgam, Shah reviewed the security situation and the steps taken to counter terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, especially after the targeted killings of civilians, mostly non-local laborers and minorities.
*during the meeting, Raj BhavanOfficials said the Home Minister was briefed about the steps taken to eliminate terrorism from the Union Territory and the anti-infiltration measures by the security forces.
* The meeting was attended by top officials of the civil administration including the Lieutenant Governor and senior security officers from the Army, CRPF, Police and other agencies.
* He will also interact with the members of youth circles of Jammu and Kashmir at 4.45 pm.
* Amit Shah will inaugurate the first direct international flight between Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. HM will inaugurate the flight at 6 pm.
* Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’visit For Jammu and Kashmir, the local police jointly put in place an aerial surveillance cover for areas where minorities live in Srinagar as well as in the city center Lal Chowk.
A soldier of an Indian paramilitary force stands guard on the road ahead of Amit Shah’s visit in Srinagar. (AFP)
* In addition, a total of 50 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) teams have been deployed in J&K for security purposes.
* Police and CRPF test drones in Pratap Park area of Srinagar ahead of Shah’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
* Officials said that bunkers of CRPF forces have been set up in many areas of the city as well as in other parts of the Kashmir Valley.
Female Indian paramilitary personnel stand guard (AFP)
Recently, following the killings of non-locals in Jammu and Kashmir, around 700 people have been detained in the union territory, some under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), police officials informed.
Meanwhile, a total of 26 prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir are being shifted to the Agra Central Jail under the Public Safety Act 1978. The order has been issued ahead of Shah’s three-day visit to the union territory beginning Saturday.
(with inputs from agencies)
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