New Delhi: Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir next week and review the security situation in the state.
The visit bears significance as Election Commission has announced by-election to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies where polling will be held on April 9 and 12 respectively.
During the two-day tour, Mehrishi will hold meetings with top officials of the state government, police, paramilitary forces and Army and take stock of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in border areas.
The Home Secretary is expected to call on Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and discuss with them various issues concerning the state.
The state has seen several incidents of violence in recent past including one at Awantipora where two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants and a civilian were killed during a nine-hour gunbattle between the ultras and the security forces.
Army’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen A K Bhatia today also spoke to his Pakistani counterpart and conveyed India’s concerns over movement of terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Anantnag seat fell vacant in June last after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti won the assembly polls and resigned from the Lok Sabha. The Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was vacated by former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra who had resigned in protest against alleged “brutalities” on Kashmir protesters.
—-PTI