JK: Shivraj Patil chairs high-level security meeting

Srinagar, June 30: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today chaired a high-level meeting on the overall security situation in the Kashmir valley.

The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of sudden spurt of violence in the Kashmir valley.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chief Secretary C Phunsog, Director General of state police Gopal Sharma, state financial commissioner (Home), GOC of 15 and 16 corps, Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) S I S Ahmad and additional Director General of Border Security Force (BSF).

Official sources said Mr Patil was given a detailed account by senior Army, paramilitary and police officials about the prevailing security situation in the state.

He was told about the recent spurt in violence in which a number of militants, civilians and security forces were killed.

Sources said he was informed about the measures taken by the security forces to counter insurgency operations across the valley.

He was also told about the infiltration by militants from across the border.

The Home minister was told about the preventive measures taken on the Line of Control (LoC) by the security forces guarding the border.

A brief about the infiltration attempts in Uri and Machil sector in which about a dozen militants were killed immediately after they sneaked into this side during the past one week was given to him.

The meeting was held immediately after he arrived here from Jammu this afternoon.

Earlier, he was received at the airport by tourism minister Dilawar Mir, Pradesh Congress president Peerzada Mohammad Sayed and other senior civil, police, army and paramilitary officials.

UNI