Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday reviewed the security situation in three north Kashmir districts, which witnessed violent protests during the past four months, with top officials of administration, police, CRPF and Army.
Mr. Chidambaram, who arrived in the north Kashmir town of Baramulla from Kargil in Ladakh region, discussed the overall security situation in Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara - the three districts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Valley, sources said.
Infiltration of militants from across the LoC before the onset of winter and steps taken to counter it were also discussed in detail, the sources said, adding he also met several delegations and went around Baramulla town, 55 kms from here.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, Special Director General of CRPF, General officer Commanding of 19 Infantry Division and Inspector General of Poice Kashmir Shiv Murari Sahai.
The other police officers to attend the meeting included SP Baramulla M A Untoo, SP Sopore Mohammad Altaf Khan, SP of Kupwara V. K. Birdhi and SP of Handwara Rafiq Vakil. The Deputy Commissioners of the three districts also attended the meeting, the sources said.
The Home Minister later met civilian delegations including those of Congress, National Conference, Fruit Growers Association, Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee and Bar Association, Tangmarg, they said.
Mr. Chidambaram later drove to parts of Baramulla town, where a strike had been called by hardline Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The Home Minister also met civilian delegations in Baramulla including those of Congress, National Conference, Fruit Growers Association, Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee and Bar Association, Tangmarg, they said.
Earlier the Union Minister, during his extensive visit to Kargil district, took stock of the pace of development work and also the problems being faced by the people who suffered due to recent floods, an official spokesman said.
He said Mr. Chidambaram also reviewed the steps being taken for reconstruction of infrastructure and assets damaged in the recent cloudburst and flash floods in Ladakh.
Mr. Chidambaram also chaired a meeting attended by State Ministers Qamar Ali Akhoon and Nawang Rigzin Jora, Chief Executive Councillor, Kargil Hill Development Council, Kachoo Ahmad Ali Khan and MP Ghulam Hassan Khan.