NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday met Union home minister Rajnath Singh here and apprised him of the security situation in the state and measures taken to beef up security arrangements for the Amarnath pilgrims and counter-insurgency measures in the Valley even as she blamed “external forces” for trouble in the state.
The meeting comes a day after Singh held an all-party meeting on Friday evening on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir as also the scenario arising due to the standoff with China at Dokalam in Sikkim. “Kashmir issue is not a law and order problem. It is happening because of external forces. The ongoing fight is a handiwork of external forces and now unfortunately China is also trying to meddle in it,” Mehbooba told reporters after the meeting.
The Jammu and Kashmir CM also told Singh that after a thorough review of the law and order situation in the Valley following the attack on the Amarnath pilgrims, certain steps had been taken to strengthen vigil, especially in the vulnerable areas, and maintain peace in the Valley, official sources said. Mufti also told the home minister about the progress of the ongoing probe into the terror attack on the Amarnath pilgrims. She told the attack on Amarnath pilgrims was aimed to spark communal violence in the state. The state government has also directed the police to remain extra vigilant to check repeat of such an incident.
Mehbooba also said that the Jammu and Kashmir government had requested the central government for ensuring that Article 370 should not get diluted as it has an emotional connect with the people of the state. After the visit of the minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir and MoS (PMO) Jitendra Singh to Srinagar after the July 10 attack on the pilgrims, the Centre had advised the state government and the security forces to vigorously implement the existing security plans for the security of the Amarnath pilgrims.
The Centre has also directed the state government and the security forces to intensify targeted action against the terrorists in the Valley. The Union Home Ministry has separately directed the Border Security Force to step up vigil along the borders and thwart any possible infiltration of the ultras from Pakistan.
Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba is suspected to be behind the killing of seven Amarnath pilgrims and injuring 19 others on July 10 by firing on the moving bus carrying the devotees.