Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reached Srinagar on Saturday to take stock of the situation in the Valley which has witnessed several incidents of violence and protests since Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani was killed on July 8. Singh, who is on a two-day visit, met civil civil society delegations, reported ANI.
Accompanied by the directors general of paramilitary, Central Reserve Police Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the minister will meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and senior officials, and review the law and order situation in Kashmir. Singh will also meet representatives of political parties and people in general.
Curfew was lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal on Saturday, reported The Tribune. However, Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code remained in force in the districts. The law restricts assembly of four or more people in an area.
On Thursday, during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, Singh said the Centre will form an expert panel to look into the use of pellet guns. The use of this lethal weapon has drawn widespread criticism from all quarters. Last week, Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda sent a team of three eye specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, to help treat pellet injuries in Kashmir.
At least 44 people have died and over 2,000 people have been injured so far in the agitations. According to IANS, the Centre has already sent more than 3,000 paramilitary troops to the state to assist the state government restore peace.
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