Rajnath in J&K today, may review suspension of ops

TIL Desk/National/Jammu/ Home Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Jammu and Kashmir for two days starting today where he would review the ongoing suspension of anti-terror operations and tour a border district, officials said. The home minister might also attend an Iftar to be hosted by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, an official said.

During his visit, he would review the prevailing situation in the state, particularly in border areas and the restive Valley, which witnessed several incidents of violence in the recent past. There would also be a detailed review of the situation since May 16 when the Centre unilaterally announced suspension of anti-terror operations during the month of Ramzan, an official said.

The need for such an exercise was to understand the impact of the suspension of operations on the life of citizens and whether to extend it further, the official said. Singh would hold meetings with Governor N N Vohra, the chief minister, top civil, police and paramilitary officials. The home minister might also make an announcement on whether the operations would be suspended beyond Eid and during the Amaranth yatra beginning June 28, the official said.

The recent incidents of stone pelting, attacks on security forces in the Kashmir valley and infiltration attempts along the border would also figure in the meetings Singh would have with the security forces’ top brass, the official said. The home minister’s visit comes amidst an offer for talks with the Hurriyat Conference.