JAMMU: Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Jammu late Thursday night on a three-day visit to the Union Territory, during which he will visit forward areas along the International Border in Kathua district and review the overall security situation at a high-level meeting.
Shah landed at the Jammu Airport around 11 pm and proceeded directly to Lok Bhavan. His arrival was delayed from the earlier scheduled time. He was received at the airport by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Ahead of the Home Minister’s security review meeting, top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), heads of paramilitary forces, and senior officers from intelligence agencies have already reached Jammu.
On Friday morning, Shah will visit forward areas along the International Border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, including the Border Outposts at Gurnam and Bobiya. He will inspect the arrangements made by the Border Security Force (BSF) to curb infiltration from across the Pakistan border. From the Bobiya Border Outpost, the Home Minister will e-inaugurate and lay the e-foundation stone for six welfare schemes for BSF personnel.
During the monsoon floods in August–September last year, several BSF posts and stretches of border fencing were damaged, which have since been repaired. Shah will interact with BSF officers and jawans deployed along the International Border and take feedback on the prevailing situation.
After returning from the border visit, the Home Minister will chair a high-level meeting at Lok Bhavan on Friday afternoon to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, senior officials of the MHA, heads of paramilitary forces from New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, intelligence agency officials, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, and other senior police and intelligence officers will attend the meeting.
Sources said the meeting will include a comprehensive review of the security scenario, with particular focus on ongoing anti-terrorist operations in the hilly areas of the Jammu region against foreign terrorists. The review comes a day after security forces neutralised three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists—two in Basantgarh area of Udhampur district and one in Chatroo area of Kishtwar district.
Later in the day, Shah will distribute compassionate appointment letters and meet families of martyrs at Lok Bhavan.
On February 7, the Home Minister will chair a high-level meeting to review the development works in Jammu and Kashmir before returning in the afternoon. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and senior officers of the MHA and civil administration will attend the development review meeting.
Meanwhile, security has been intensified across the Jammu region ahead of the Home Minister’s visit.
