Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday landed in Jammu and Kashmir for a 3-day visit to the Union Territory and met the family of J&K police officer Inspector Parvez Ahmad, who was killed by terrorists earlier this month. Shah also spoke to Fatima Akhter, Ahmad’s wife and gave her documents of appointment to a government job on compassionate grounds.Also Read - Jammu And Kashmir: Valley Sees Exodus of Workers After Migrant Labourers' Killings
“Visited the house of martyr Jawan Parvez Ahmed Dar and paid tribute to him. I and the whole country are proud of his bravery. Met his family members and gave his wife a government job,” the Home Minister tweeted.
Shah was accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh. Notably, this is Home Minister’s maiden visit to the erstwhile state since its bifurcation and the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
Later, Shah chaired security review meeting at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.
J&K Turns Into Fortress
Meanwhile. a multi-layer security arrangement is in place and the Valley has turned into a fortress for the Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit. His visit comes amid the recent spate of civilian killings in the union territory in the past weeks.
In the wake of his visit, several traffic restrictions have been imposed in Srinagar including those driving two-wheelers subjected to intensive security checks. Barricades have been put up on the roads across the valley, especially in the city, while frisking and checking of people has been intensified.
Additional Security Forces Deployed
In the wake of Home Minister’s visit, additional deployment of security forces has been made across the valley, especially in Srinagar. Official sources said 50 companies of additional paramilitary forces are being inducted into the valley.
A thick security cover has been thrown around the BJP office at Jawahar Nagar in the city where Shah is likely to pay a visit. Similarly, roads leading to Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) have been made off-limits for three days from Saturday as the Union home minister is expected to attend an event there as well. Bunkers manned by paramilitary CRPF have come up in several areas of the city and in other parts of the UT.
Mobile Internet Services Snapped
The mobile internet services on a dozen towers — mostly in the areas where non-local labourers were killed in the past week — were snapped three days ago as part of the security measures. The officials said police have started stringent checking of documents of two-wheelers plying on the roads and many have been seized by police.However, IGP, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar had said these steps were purely related to terror violence. “Seizing some bikes and shutting down of internet of some towers is purely related to #terror #violence. It has nothing to do with visit of the Hon’ble HM.”
Tentative Schedule
- On the first day of his visit, i.e, on Saturday, Shah will inaugurate a direct flight between Srinagar and Sharjah.
- He will also meet families of those killed in the recent civilian killings in the Valley.
- Later in the day, he is scheduled to convene a meeting of the Unified Command to take stock of the situation on the ground.
- On Sunday, October 24, Shah will visit Jammu where he will address a public rally – Jan Samwad.
- He will then head to Srinagar where he will spend all three nights, a source told NDTV.
A day later, Shah will call on Sarpanches (village heads) and address their concerns.