Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday stressed that there would be zero tolerance towards militancy and terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah arrived in Kashmir on Wednesday on a two-day visit to take stock of the security and political situations in the trouble-torn state.
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He also enquired about the pace of several developmental projects being funded by the Centre in the state.
On Thursday morning, Shah visited the family of police officer Arhid Khan (SHO), who died at AIIMS in New Delhi after having suffered serious injuries in a militant attack in Anantanag on June 22. Five CRPF personnel and a militant were also killed in the attack.
Shah met Khan's parents at Balgarden in Srinagar and offered condolence.
The home minister's visit is also seen as a recognition of the efforts and sacrifices of J&K Police in battling militancy in the state. The J&K Police have been at the forefront of the anti-militancy operations in the state though their role has been overshadowed by Army and other central forces.
As an acknowledgment of the police's role in fighting militancy, the government has decided to name villages after personnel of J&K Police who have died in the anti-militancy operations.
On Wednesday, the home minister was given a detailed briefing about the security situation in Kashmir and security arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra that starts on July 1.
He also met with delegations of Sarpanchs, Panchs, Gujars and Bakerwal and youth at SKICC, on the banks of Dal Lake before wrapping up his visit.
In the afternoon, Special Secretary, Internal Security, at Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), A.P. Maheswari said the home minister appreciated the “significant improvement” in the security situation in the state and stressed that “there should be zero tolerance towards militancy and militants.”
“The home minister stated there should be continued action against terror funding,” Maheswari said. “He (Shah) stated that the rule of law should be enforced.”
J&K Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subramanyam, who was present at the press briefing, said the home minister held a number of meetings to assess the security scenario, review preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, and provide good governance in the state. He said the the meetings were attended by Governor Sataya Pal Malik, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, all four advisors to the Governor, and senior officials of the State and Central governments, security agencies and armed forces.
Subramanyam said that the home minister laid stress on improving the lives of common man.
He said that the review meeting by the home minister focussed on good governance, accelerating development, Panhhayat and municipal system and fast tracking the implementation of Prime Minister’s Development Package and building first rate infrastructure.
