Shah reviews J&K security ahead of Amarnath Yatra

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 26

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today directed the security forces to ensure optimum use of latest technologies and gadgets to ensure the security of Amarnath yatris and facilitate the movement of devotees and tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.

He stressed the need to ensure a violence-free yatra during a high-level security review meeting co-chaired by J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik and attended by senior officers of the Army, security forces and civil administration of the state and Central governments on the first day of his maiden visit to the state after assuming office.

The Home Minister also reviewed development projects in the state.

“Forces should ensure optimum use of latest technologies and gadgets not only for the security of the yatra, but also to facilitate the movement of devotees and tourists. He drew attention of forces towards anti-sabotage as well as anti-subversion drills and the access control procedures,” said AP Maheshwari, Special Secretary, Internal Security, who along with Gyanesh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Home Ministry, addressed mediapersons after the meeting.

Shah “directed security agencies to take all preventive steps to ensure a violence-free yatra”, they said.

The Home Minister directed that there should be no complacency on part of the security forces or duty staff during the yatra period.

The minister directed security forces and various agencies to continue taking strict action against miscreants and reiterated the need to cover all sensitive and vulnerable places, including possible points of infiltration throughout the state, to “obviate any type of risk to the yatra”.

JKLF ready for talks, puts forth conditions

• Separatist group Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front on Wednesday said it was ready for talks but there should be no pre-conditions and separatist leaders released
• The separatist group headed by Yasin Malik, who is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail, said it had ‘always aspired for a peaceful resolution’to the Kashmir issue
• To create a conducive atmosphere for talks, JKLF vice-chairman Saleem Haroon sought the release all pro-freedom leaders, lifting ban on legitimate political organisations and end to killings in Valley