Image Credit: theprint.in
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the political leaders of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday, the security forces in Kashmir valley have sounded an alert. According to a report by NDTV, in a core-group meeting headed by J&K’s DGP, Lieutenant General and the General Officer Commanding of the XV Corps, the security situation was reviewed. Some gaps were found in the review and are being addressed.
A senior official told NDTV that considering the importance of PM’s meeting, an alert has been sounded for 48 hours in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir as well as along the border with Pakistan i.e., the Line of Control.
Earlier, home minister Amit Shah had held a meeting on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir which was attended by NSA Ajit Doval, IB Director Arvind Kumar, R&AW chief Samant Goel, J&K’s DGP Dilbagh Singh, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and CRPF Director General Kuldeep Singh.
The Prime Minister’s meeting on June 24 with the leaders of J&K is understood to be a part of the efforts made by the central government to resume the political process in the erstwhile state. Administration in Jammu & Kashmir has remained under the direct control of the Centre since the year 2018 when its last elected government lost power after the alliance between PDP and BJP broke. Restoring the statehood of J&K can also be on the table apart from conducting the assembly elections. A Delimitation Commission has been formed in the state to redraw the electoral boundaries and the Prime Minister is expected to call on J&K’s leaders to cooperate during the exercise.
14 leaders of J&K have been invited for the Thursday meeting including Farooq and Omar Abdullah of the NC, Mehbooba mufti of the PDP, and Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress party.