First Time After Abrogation of Article 370, Amit Shah Visits Srinagar Amid High Security

Srinagar: Union home minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar on Saturday amidst heightened security vigil on a three-day visit to the region. This is Shah’s first visit to the Union territory since the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A. 

After Shah landed at Srinagar airport, he met the family of slain Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cop Parvaiz Ahmad Dar at their residence in the city outskirts of Nowgam locality. He was accompanied by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Union minister Jitender Singh, J&K chief secretary AK Mehta and Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh. Dar, an officer with the police’s intelligence wing, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was killed by suspected militants on June 22 near his home while returning from evening prayers. 

In a tweet, Shah also said that he offered a government job to Dar’s wife. 

“Visited the house of martyr Jawan Parvez Ahmed Dar and paid tribute to him. I and the whole country are proud of his bravery. Met his family members and gave his wife a government job. The J&K Police is working diligently to realize the new J&K that Modi Ji has envisioned,” Shah wrote. 

The home minister is visiting the region when militancy-related violence has increased, resulting in the killing of over 30 persons, including 12 civilians and at least 10 soldiers, in October alone. The fresh spate of violence in which members of the minority community were also targeted has raised serious concerns amongst the authorities. It has also triggered fear and uncertainty amongst a cross-section of people, including non-local workers who are leaving the region after militants targeted them. 

To address the increase in these attacks, the home minister later held a security review meeting at Srinagar. He discussed the measures to be carried out with senior officials of UT administration, J&K police, Indian Army, Intelligence Bureau and paramilitary forces. As per an official wishing anonymity, the home minister discussed recent civilian killings, militancy, and Pakistan's threat. 

Shah's visit is happening for the first time since he announced the revocation of J&K's "special status" that reserved constitutional guarantees to people of the region on land and job rights on August 5, 2019. Kashmir-based political parties, civil rights groups, and other key stakeholders had opposed the decision and warned against a social and political fallout.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also interacted with the members of the youth clubs of J&K in the capital. "Over 40,000 people have died here, including civilians, militants, security forces, and others, and we have to end that. Can terrorism and development go together? To achieve the development, we have to achieve peace first," he said during the interaction. 

During his three-day stay in the region, Shah is expected to meet grassroots political leaders, members of BJP and other key officials. He is also scheduled to inaugurate international flights from Srinagar and some infrastructure projects. 

However, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, taking a dig at Shah, said some of these projects were already announced by previous governments.

"HM inaugurating international flights from Srinagar & laying the foundation of new medical colleges isn't new. The UPA govt sanctioned half a dozen medical colleges. & are functional now. Post Article 370 abrogation & an engineered crisis, J&K has been thrown into chaos," she tweeted.

In a series of tweets, Mufti said the ground reality of Kashmir remains difficult. At the same time, she said, there is a need to introduce confidence-building measures to provide a sense of relief to the region's people.

"CBMs such as lifting the siege that J&K has been put under since 2019, releasing prisoners, ending the harassment people here face on a daily basis, taking tangible steps to revive the economy esp horticulture would have provided a sense of relief," she wrote on Twitter.

"Instead, prior to his visit, 700 civilians were detained, booked under PSA & many shifted to jails outside Kashmir. Such oppressive steps further vitiate an already tense atmosphere. 'Normalcy acrobatics' is in full swing while the reality is denied & obfuscated," she added.