Mehbooba reviews Kashmir security situation in UHQ meet

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti reviewed prevailing security situation in the Valley with top brass of army, police and other agencies during Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting here on Tuesday.

Mehbooba chaired the multi-agency meeting with the rank and file of the security establishment, a day after she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi. Sources told Deccan Herald that she discussed issues like social media wars, ban on Internet, student protests, security for ensuing Amarnath yatra, attacks on politicians and families of security personnel and infiltration from across the border, with the top brass of security forces and civil administration.

For the first time since its formation, the meeting of the UHQ was held in Srinagar while the Durbar Move offices are is still in Jammu. The UHQ is the apex decision-making body on security affairs in the state which has the representatives from the Army, paramilitary forces, police and intelligence agencies and is headed by the Chief Minister.

“The focus of the meeting remained on the use of social media by separatist and their sympathisers to flare up the tensions in Kashmir Valley while other security issues including Amarnath yatra were also discussed threadbare,” they said and added top brass of security forces briefed the CM about ground situation in the Valley.

An official spokesperson said Mehbooba directed the security agencies to undertake youth counselling and ensure that no collateral damage takes place while dealing with law and order situations. “Holding of counselling sessions for youth would not only help the youth ally apprehensions and misgivings about the system but would also give the security agencies a chance to reach out to people through community policing,” the CM told the meeting.

She also directed the security agencies to exercise restraint while dealing with provocative situations. “Wherever restraint was exercised, it showed positive results on the ground. Youth caught in the cycle of misinformation and violence are our own who ought to be won over with a healing touch,” Mehbooba said and specifically directed that culprits be brought to justice if found involved in harassing a community or section of society in the name of a social cause.

The Valley has seen a surge in violence after nine civilians were killed and more than 150 were injured in security force and police actions on April 9 when the Srinagar bypoll was held.