Amit Shah to arrive in Kashmir for 3-day visit on Saturday amid spike in violence
Srinagar: Security was heightened in the Kashmir Valley on Thursday, two days ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Srinagar.
This will be Shah’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the erstwhile state’s semi-autonomous position was revoked on August 5, 2019. It comes against the backdrop of the series of killings including of five migrant workers and several minority community members. The violence has forced many migrant workers and the Kashmiri Pandits to leave the Kashmir Valley.
The Home Minister is likely to hold a series of meetings with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials of police, army and paramilitary forces. He will also meet his party leaders here.
According to the reports, he will also meet BJP leaders and workers at the SKICC. Traffic police has already issued an advisory declaring the entire stretch of iconic Boulevard from Dalgate to Nishat out of bounds for commoners for two days from Saturday in the wake of the VVIP visit.
Meanwhile, security intensified in major towns of the Valley in view of the HM’s visit. Here in this capital city, contingents of CRPF and policemen were deployed in strength to thwart any possible militant attack, reports said.
Wearing full battle gear, the alert forces carried out day-long searches at several places, including, Batmaloo, Hari Singh High Street, Jehangir Chowk, Qamarwari, Maulana Azad road and subjected people to frisking and identification checks.
Similar scenes were also witnessed along the SK Park, Munawarabad, Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta and other parts of the downtown. Security has also been beefed up in Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of this capital city.
The police also carried out surprise checks of the vehicles on the entry and exit points in this capital city. Security around vital installations has also been beefed up, apprehending militant attacks to disrupt the visit of the Home Minister.
Reports said that police and civil administration held a series of meetings here and discussed the scheduled visit of the Home Minister and the security arrangements that need to be put in place.
Meanwhile, traffic authorities here announced that the Boulevard Road Srinagar from Badyari Chowk to Nishat and Gupkar Road will remain closed for general traffic in connection with the visit of VVIP from 23rd to 25th October.
“The motorists are requested to opt for Foreshore -Habak – Hazratbal route OR Tailbal – Zakoora – Hazratbal route and Badyari-Hazratbal route for return journey,” reads an advisory.
“The tourists shall be allowed up to Nehru Park after proper verification of their places of stay,” it reads, adding, “The route for medical emergencies shall be decided on the spot.
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