Snipers, drones deployed, security beefed up ahead of Amit Shah's visit in J&K
Srinagar/IBNS: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Srinagar on Saturday for a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir amid heightened security.
His visit comes after a spate of targeted civilian killings in the union territory in recent weeks.
Shah is expected to review security with police and security forces and devise a fresh strategy to deal with militants in the valley.
This will be Shah’s first visit to Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in Aug 2019.
The security across Kashmir especially in Srinagar has been beefed up with snipers, drones and sharpshooters being deployed.
"Regular area domination exercises are being carried out. Also, flash nakas are being organised," CRPG's Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Mathew A John told NDTV.
"Snipers and sharpshooters have been deployed at strategic places. Vehicles are being checked and pedestrians are being frisked. It's not to harass the public but for their safety, too," he added.
The police and central armed police force have been asked to be on an alert.
Frisking has also been increased in various localities of Srinagar.
The security forces continue to seize two wheelers, even though police maintain that this has nothing to do with the Home Minister's visit.
During the three-day visit, the Home Minister, sources in UNI said, would be holding a high level security review meeting in Srinagar where officers from various security and intelligence agencies are going to brief the minister about the overall situation and steps being taken to stop targeted civilian killings.
Shah is also scheduled to review the progress in the implementation of various developmental projects under the Prime Minister's package.
He would also be interacting with Panchayati Raj representatives and some mainstream politicians in Kashmir.
The visit comes at a time when there have been a series of targeted killings in Kashmir.
In October, 11 civilians, mostly migrant workers and minorities, were killed in targeted attacks.
Security forces have also stepped up anti-militancy operations and 18 militants have been killed .
Forces have also lost 10 of its men in Kashmir this month.
[With UNI inputs]
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