Amid Kashmir tensions, Shah chairs security meet

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday presided over a high-level security meeting amid escalating tension in Jammu and Kashmir, where a major security build-up has sparked fears and tensions.

The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Intelligence Bureau chief Arvind Kumar, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Kumar Goel and senior Home Ministry officials.

Additional Secretary (Jammu and Kashmir Division) Gyanesh Kumar has separately briefed the Home Minister about the situation in the Kashmir Valley.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Amit Shah is likely to visit the state after the conclusion of Parliament session next week.

Shah's visit comes amid uncertainty and ahead of Independence Day celebrations with regional parties seeking greater clarity from the Centre about the developments in the state.

While there has been no direct statement from the Centre so far, all eyes are on the home minister's visit in the wake of massive troop deployment in the Valley.

Top functionaries of the Central government are, in the interim, scrambling to take stock of the situation in the National Capital.

While 10,000 additional troops were sent to Jammu and Kashmir last week, a person familiar with the development said "some of the troops that had been deployed to guard the Amarnath Yatra route may likely be asked to re-route to the Valley, if the internal security situation needs containment.

If an order comes, troops will be moved to the specified areas by air and on-road convoys".

Meanwhile, people are queuing up outside fuel stations, ATMs, medicine and grocery shops fearing shortage of essential items amid the ongoing situation.

Experts in the Valley said the cause behind the turmoil was manifold, including the pressure to resolve the Kashmir issues post the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

A senior state government official said on condition of anonymity that the state had not only witnessed encounters between militants and security forces over the last one week in south Kashmir's Shopian and Pulwama districts, the Line of Control too had become acutely volatile since the meeting between Trump and Khan, with repeated unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army.

On Sunday, the Indian army foiled an infiltration bid along the Kupwara sector in Jammu.

While seven infiltrators have been gunned down since Friday by the anti-infiltration grid of the Indian army, security forces in the Valley reiterated that "multiple attempts are being made from across the border to disrupt peace in the Valley."