As Jammu and Kashmir witnesses a fresh wave of violence, Home Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to visit the State later this month. Mr. Singh is likely to visit the border areas where the Centre has spent funds to create infrastructure including bunkers and shelters.
The Home Ministry is reviewing the ongoing projects in the State and will identify places Mr. Singh could visit.
The visit will be the Minister’s third in two years after the situation turned volatile in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016.
March trip cancelled
Mr. Singh was scheduled to visit Kashmir University in March but the visit was cancelled at the last minute due to an “unforeseen situation”.
On April 1, security forces launched multiple operations in south Kashmir in which 13 militants were killed.
Four civilians and three Army personnel also died in the operation. Protests have erupted after the encounters, resulting in injuries to scores of people.
Several persons have been admitted to hospital with pellet injuries to their eyes.
Till March 11, as many as 64 incidents of ‘terrorist violence’ were reported in the State. During the same period last year, 39 terrorist related incidents were reported. In 2016-17, as many as 664 terrorist-related incidents were reported, whereas in 2015, 208 such incidents were reported.
Mehbooba’s plea
On Monday, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met the Prime Minister in New Delhi and sought frequent meetings with Pakistan at the “highest levels.”
She “stressed on finding ways and means to end the cycle of violence in the State by addressing the element of alienation among youth.”
She said the people of the State were looking up to the country’s political leadership to support them in getting out of this cycle of uncertainty and deaths, a J&K government statement said.
