Shinde reviews security in Jammu and Kashmir

Union Home Minister  Sushilkumar Sinde Saturay reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir but a planned visit to the Line of Control (LoC) was cancelled due to bad weather, an official said. Earlier reports had said Shinde visited the LoC.

The home minister co-chaired a meeting of the unified headquarters here with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Top brass of the army, paramilitary forces, police, central and state intelligence agencies attended meeting which at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex along the Dal Lake.

The unified headquarters is the apex security grid in the state providing coordination and synergy to forces fighting militancy.

Besides reviewing the security situation in the state, Shinde also held detailed discussions about security being provided to village sarpanchs and panches in the valley.

Militants since last year have killed five panchs and sarpanchs after issuing threats to these village representatives to quit.

Shinde then took stock of the efforts to conserve the Dal Lake.
"He went around the lake in a motor boat," an official said.
The water body is dying a slow death due to encroachment, discharge of effluents and weed growth.

Shinde is also paid obeisance at the Hazratbal Shrine. Shinde's three-day visit to the state began Friday.