Security kept on high alert on PM’s visit to valley

All necessary security measures in place: DGP

Srinagar: A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, heavy security measures are in place to thwart any untoward incident. According to the KNS correspondent, heavy deployment of police and other security agencies was made in various areas of Srinagar with the frisking and checking being done in various areas here.

Talking to KNS, DGP K Rajindera who is in Jammu, said: “All necessary security arrangement have been taken and a foolproof security grid is in place.”

Reports reaching KNS said that the senior police officials were themselves monitoring the situation with the vehicles at check points being thoroughly monitored before being allowed to proceed. A senior police official while pleading anonymity stated that the clear directions have been given to them for the arrangement of the adequate security measures ahead of the scheduled visit of prime minister. Also the reports maintained that police has been directed to check vehicles in such a way that commoners don’t feel inconvenience. Security has also been beefed in view of the strike call extended by almost all major separatist outfits calling for a general strike on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit. On July 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a one-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir- his first after assuming office of the prime minister. The prime minister will arrive in Jammu and then proceed to nearby Katra town to inaugurate the Katra-Udhampur train that would cover a 25-km distance between the two places, sources said. Katra is the base town of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine that is visited by millions of devotees every year. After the commissioning of the Katra railway station, pilgrims would be able to reach the town directly without having to engage other modes of transport as they now do.

Railways Minister Sadananda Gowda and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendera Singh will accompany Mr Modi during his visit. The prime minister will then leave for Srinagar where he will chair a security review meeting at the Badami Bagh headquarters of the army’s 15 Corps. The meeting will be attended by Governor N.N. Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, general officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command, Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda and the three corps commanders of the 14th, 15th and the 16th Corps. The governor will later host lunch for the prime minister at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar. Mr Modi is also scheduled to visit Uri town in Baramulla district to inaugurate the 240 MW Uri-II hydroelectric power projects