Union home minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in meetings with chief minister Omar Abdullah and top officials, particularly in view of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India starting later this week.
Mr Chidambaram, who arrived in the north Kashmir town of Baramulla from Kargil in the Ladakh region, took stock of the situation in Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara — the three districts along the LoC in the Valley which saw violent protests in the past four months.
Top Army, CRPF, civil and state police officials also discussed with the home minister the issue of infiltration by militants before the onset of winter at the meeting in Baramulla, 55 km from Srinagar, after which Mr Chidmabaram had a brief one-on-one session with the chief minister.
Union home secretary G.K. Pillai has said that there was no specific terror threat in connection with Mr Obama’s visit but militants might try to create disturbances during his India tour to gain publicity the way they had during then President Bill Clinton’s India visit in 2000.
“That’s the type of fear we have that innocent civilians will be killed and then the blame would be put on the Indian Army like the last time. All indications are that the propaganda machinery will be out to do the same,” he had said.
The home minister also met civilian delegations in Baramulla, including those of the Congress, National Conference, Fruit Growers’ Association and Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee, sources said.