Srinagar|April,7: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Srinagar on Monday evening, officials said. Shah arrived in Jammu on Sunday evening, marking the start of his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. This is his first visit to the Union Territory since last year’s assembly elections in which Omar Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) secured a landslide victory.
Officials said that immediately after landing in Srinagar, the Home Minister will visit the family of slain Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Bhat, who was killed in a gunbattle in September 2023 in the forests of Anantnag. In the same encounter, two Army officers — Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonchak — along with a soldier, also lost their lives. The operation, which lasted seven days, culminated with the killing of top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Uzair Khan.
After meeting the family of slain DSP, Shah will travel by road to Raj Bhawan Srinagar, where he will stay for the night. On Tuesday, the Home Minister will chair two crucial meetings at Raj Bhawan — one to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and another to assess the progress of development projects in the region.
The meeting in Srinagar would be held amid an ongoing face off between the Omar Abdullah-led government and the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha over the recent transfer of 48 officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS). Chief Minister Omar Abdullah last week wrote to the Union Home Minister, alleging that the transfer order issued by the LG were “without legal backing” and in violation of the Reorganisation Act. In response, Sinha reiterated that he has not crossed any constitutional limits.
Meanwhile, security has been intensified across the Valley to ensure foolproof arrangements for the high-profile visit. Patrolling has been increased in both urban and rural areas, with enhanced deployment at key entry and exit points. On Saturday, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi chaired a joint security meeting to review preparations for the visit.
