Union Home Minister Amit Shah landed in Jammu and Kashmir Saturday morning for a three-day visit — his first since the government scrapped Article 370 in August two years ago.
The Home Minister started his tour by visiting the house of late Inspector Parvez Ahmed who was killed by terrorists last month. He handed over papers relating to a government job to his wife. Shah was accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and DGP Dilbag Singh during his visit.
He was received at the Srinagar airport by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and other senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration, officials said. Shah’s visit comes in the backdrop of a series of civilian killings in the Valley. Sources said that he will be chairing a unified command meeting at the Raj Bhawan on security. The meeting will be attended by the four corps commanders, J&K police top brass and chiefs of intelligence bureau and central armed police forces among other top officials.
He also inaugurated a direct international flight service between Srinagar and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
“We declare it open from today. This will help in boosting tourism and bring more investment in the Union Territory,” Shah was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Amit Shah’s visit comes amid heightened tension in J&K following the targeted killing of civilians; 11 – including Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs – have been killed this month, triggering panic among migrant workers and the Kashmiri Pandit community, some of whom have already fled.
He chaired a meeting of the Unified Command to review the on-ground situation, at which he reportedly asked tough questions of the security and intel agencies operating in J&K.
