Doval, top officials brief HM
MHA in regular touch with State Admn
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today held high-level review of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and top officials of the Home Ministry and Intelligence agencies in the Union capital during which roadmap for further restoration of normalcy in the Valley was discussed.
Doval, who had spent 10 days in Kashmir after withdrawal of special Constitutional provisions of Jammu and Kashmir by the Central Government on August 5 to monitor situation, could visit the Valley again after few days, reliable sources told the Excelsior saying he was in regular touch with top security brass in Kashmir from New Delhi as well.
Sources said Doval was reported to have given detailed briefing to Shah on security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A and bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and steps being taken by the State Government to maintain peace and normalcy in the State.
This was the first meeting Doval had with the Union Home Minister following his return to New Delhi after peaceful celebrations of Eid festival and Independence Day in Jammu and Kashmir including the Valley, which he monitored from Srinagar and also visited several remote areas of South Kashmir like Shopian and Anantnag and downtown Srinagar.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Arvind Kumar besides some other senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs were also present at the meeting that lasted about an hour.
“Amit Shah was reported to have been briefed on various aspects of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir including relaxation in restrictions, restoration of landline telephones, re-opening of educational institutions, functioning of Civil Secretariat and Government offices etc,” sources said, adding that he was understood to have called for ensuring that problems of the people are minimized even during the restrictions.
According to sources, the Central Government was satisfied with peaceful celebrations of Eid festival and Independence Day and wanted the administration to gradually lift the restrictions depending upon the prevailing situation by ensuring that there were no casualties.
Shah, who was being constantly updated on Jammu and Kashmir situation by the MHA and other security officials post abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A and bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories, will hold another review of security situation after few days, sources said, adding that a Special Cell in the Ministry of Home Affairs was in regular touch with top officials of civil and police administration, para-military forces, security and Intelligence agencies in J&K on the situation discussing with them the progress of normalcy, relaxation in restrictions, functioning of Government offices and re-opening of educational institutions.
The Central Government, according to sources, was quite confident that situation in the Kashmir valley will gradually return to normalcy though it could take some more time.
It has, however, expressed satisfaction over the way situation was returning to normalcy in Jammu region, where restrictions have been completely lifted in five districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi and educational institutions and offices were functioning normally while day restrictions have also been removed in five remaining districts of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban.
Kargil district has also returned to normal after initial protests for two days.
It may be mentioned here that the Central Government had scrapped special Constitutional provisions of Jammu and Kashmir in the form of Articles 370 and 35-A and bifurcated the State into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which will come into existence from October 31.
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