HM Shah reviews J&K security ahead of G20 meetings in Kashmir

During the meeting, the home minister emphasised the need to ensure all possible arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the G-20 meetings in Srinagar in May.

Srinagar | Updated: 14 April, 2023 10:28 am IST

Shah expressed his satisfaction over the lowest ever militant count in Jammu and Kashmir and hailed the efforts of police and other security forces in eliminating militancy from the region.

Union home minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Thursday to review security preparedness for the G20 meetings scheduled to take place in Kashmir next month.

The meeting was attended by top officials from intelligence agencies, police force, paramilitary forces, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, DGP Dilbagh Singh, home secretary Ajay Bhalla, DG CID R Swain, R&AW chief Samant Kumar Goel, NIA director general Dinkar Gupkar.

Home minister Shah’s meeting on J&K came after home secretary Bhalla’s similar review meeting on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the home minister emphasised the need to ensure all possible arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the G-20 meetings in Srinagar in May, said sources in the home ministry.

Shah expressed his gratitude and satisfaction over the lowest ever militant count in Jammu and Kashmir and hailed the efforts of police and other security forces in eliminating militancy from the region. He also urged officials to step up anti-militancy operations to eliminate the remaining militants.

HM Shah also expressed his satisfaction over the massive decline in local militant recruitment and almost zero infiltration in 2022 and also appreciated the efforts being made by LG Sinha in ensuring fast-track development in J&K and directed him and officials to maintain coordination and ensure all arrangements for the G-20 meetings are put in place.

According to reliable sources, the home minister directed security agencies operating in J&K to maintain close coordination and a close watch on anti-national elements to ensure peace prevails in the UT.

“The home minister stated that police, security forces, and the Central agencies including NIA should work together and maintain close synergy to make peace a permanent feature,” the sources said.

The home minister’s focus on ensuring the peaceful conduct of the G-20 meetings in Srinagar is also being seen as a significant step towards the restoration of normalcy in the region.