Union Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi, today directed the security top brass to take steps to contain the incidents of militancy after the killing of a young army officer by suspected militants.

Mehrishi met the Director General of Police, S P Vaid, and the state Home Secretary and asked for taking steps to ensure that the incidents of militancy are prevented. Union Home Secretary earlier met Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, here and discussed the security situation in the state.

Mehrishi, who arrived here this morning, a day after a young Kashmiri army officer was abducted and shot dead by gunmen in Shopian district, also met Governor, N N Vohra.

The visit came at a time when the incidents of militancy have shown an escalation particularly in South Kashmir. Though the police had been earlier denying the movement of militants in the areas, the abduction and later the killing of army officer in Shopian has brought the security apparatus under scanner.

Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed violence during the April 9 by poll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat in which nine people lost their lives in more than 200 incidents.  The Election Commission had also cancelled the 25 May by poll to Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, saying situation there was not feasible for holding election. There have been protests by students in the Valley last month against alleged police excesses. Students, including girls, were seen pelting stones on security personnel in these incidents

Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting of senior security officials, including Director General of Police S P Vaid, to get a first-hand information about the security scenario in the state, particularly in Kashmir Valley.  In an earlier meeting with the CM, Union home secretary discussed the overall situation in the state with the Chief Minister.

Also in his meeting with the Governor, N.N. Vohra, at the Raj Bhavan, Home Secretary held extensive discussions about issues relating to effective maintenance of law and order. They also discussed matters relating to the security situation along the IB and LoC, increasing attempts at infiltration and growing incidence of militancy in the Valley. Along the LOC a 36-year-old woman was killed and her husband was injured as India and Pakistan armies exchanged fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Naushera sector of Rajouri.

 Unprovoked firing continued on Thursday from the Pakistan side in Naushera and other sectors, defence sources said adding that the Indian Army is retaliating to Pakistan even as intermittent firing continues. Earlier this month, two Indian soldiers were killed and bodies of them were allegedly mutilated by Pakistan in the Krishna Ghati Sector in Poonch district. Pakistan had however denied the incident and has blamed Indian forces for border hostilities.

Guest