NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday directed security forces to go after those instigating youth to indulge in violence in Jammu and Kashmir and to try bring back normalcy in the Valley within a week. The directive was given during an hour-long meeting the Home Minister had with top security officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, IB chief Dineshwar Sharma, BSF DG KK Sharma, and Home Secretary Anil Goswami.
Singh said that normalcy should be brought back within a week and schools and other educational institutions should start functioning as students were the worst sufferers during the prolonged turmoil, sources said.
Attempts should also be made to reopen shops and other commercial establishments which were shut completely, the Home Minister told the officials.
The officials gave a briefing on the prevailing situation in the Valley as well as along the border and the steps taken to restore normalcy in the state, official sources said.
The unrest in the Valley, that started after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, continues to persist. Rajnath had said last week that the situation was improving in the Valley. The meeting on Sunday also comes after the visit of the all-party delegation to the Valley led by the Home Minister and then a meeting here last week. The delegation members had sought a dialogue with all stakeholders.