New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Jammu on Thursday night for a three day visit focused on reviewing the security situation, assessing development projects and engaging with local stakeholders in the Union Territory. The tour comes at a time when anti terror operations continue in parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ahead of the visit, security arrangements were strengthened across the region. Police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel carried out area domination exercises, random vehicle checks and frisking operations, particularly around sensitive locations such as Lal Chowk and adjoining commercial areas. Additional deployment was made to ensure smooth movement during the high level programme.
On Friday, the Home Minister is scheduled to visit forward border posts and interact with personnel stationed along the frontier. He is also expected to lay the foundation stones for six welfare schemes aimed at improving facilities for border security staff and their families. Later in the day, he will chair a comprehensive security review meeting at Lok Bhavan in Jammu and meet families of martyrs.
Officials indicated that the meetings will involve senior officers from security agencies and the civil administration to evaluate the law and order scenario, counter insurgency measures and progress of infrastructure initiatives. The discussions are likely to focus on coordination between forces and steps to strengthen peace in vulnerable districts.
Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Vikram Randhawa welcomed the visit, describing it as a strong message of the central government’s commitment to the region. He said such interactions boost the morale of security forces and reaffirm the policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
However, opposition leaders questioned the official assessment of normalcy. Congress representative Tariq Karra remarked that repeated visits show the situation still requires close monitoring. He pointed out that several districts have witnessed militant activity in recent months and encounters have continued for long durations, contradicting claims that conditions are fully under control.
The Home Minister’s tour is being closely watched as authorities seek to balance security concerns with development priorities and public outreach in Jammu and Kashmir.
