New Delhi: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday met Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and discussed the prevailing security situation in the state amid intelligence reports suggesting an increased attempts of infiltration from across the border this winter season.
During the 20-minute meeting, the chief minister briefed the home minister on the security situation in the Valley as well as along the border with Pakistan, which has been witnessing heavy cross-border firing and continuous attempts of infiltration by militants.
The two leaders also discussed the ongoing peace initiatives being undertaken by the Centre’s representative Dineshwar Sharma, the home ministry official said.
Intelligence agencies have cautioned the security establishment that in wake of the “mild winter this year most mountain passes were not completely blocked due to snow and this might have resulted in more militants coming in from across the border.”
The home ministry had on Thursday announced that it will reimburse the entire compensation amount paid by the State Government to victims of cross border shelling in the border areas of the states.
This year in January itself, eight civilians and six security personnel were killed and around 70 injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops along Indo-Pak border in Jammu region. Pakistani forces resorted to heavy shelling in Kathua and Samba districts and from across the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts from January 18 to 22.
Though no major ceasefire violations by Pakistan have been reported on IB since January 22, intermittent shelling has taken place along the LoC.
Sources claimed the issue of steps taken by Centre’s representative for J&K Dineshwar Sharma to restore peace and normalcy in the Valley also came up for discussion.
