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

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived on his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday after assuming office and reviewed security situation. Breaking away from protocol ,the Union Minister was received by Governor Satya Pal Malik, accompanied by his advisors and some top officials of the state administration, ,officials said. Governors in the past have normally only received the prime minister while visiting the state.

Immediately after his arrival here, 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.

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.

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.

Sources said that after chairing the review meeting on security arrangements in the state for upcoming Amarnath Yatra at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Shah would meet the families of slain policemen.