HM reviews security situation in J-K ahead of Obama's visit

Srinagar, Oct 31 (PTI) Home Minister P Chidambaram
on Sunday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir
in meetings with Chief Minister of the state Omar Abdullah and
top officials, especially in view of the visit of US President
Barack Obama to India this week.
Chidambaram, who arrived in the north Kashmir town
of Baramulla from Kargil in Ladakh region, took stock of the
situation in Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara -- the three
districts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Valley which
witnessed violent protests during the past four months.
Top officials of the state administration, police,
CRPF and Army also discussed with the Home Minister the issue
of infiltration by militants before the onset of winter at the
meeting in Baramulla, 55 kms from Srinagar, after which
Chidmabaram had a brief one-on-one discussions with the Chief
Minister.
They said the Home Minister and the Chief Minister
reviewed the overall security scenario in the state with
particular reference to the upcoming visit of Obama beginning
November 6.
India's Home Secretary G K Pillai has said that there
was no specific terror threat in connection with Obama's visit
but militants may try to create disturbance during his India
tour to get publicity, the way they did in 2000 when President
Bill Clinton was in the country.
"That's the type of fear that we have that innocent
civilians will be killed and then the blame would be put like
the last time on the Indian Army. All indications are that the
propaganda machinery would be out to do the same. Therefore,
we are being careful," he has said.
Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists had carried out a massacre
of 36 Sikhs in Chattisinghpora in south Kashmir on the
intervening night of March 19-20, 2000 when Clinton was on his
first state visit to India.
Sunday's meeting in Baramulla was attended by Director
General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, Special Director General of
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), General officer
Commanding of 19 Infantry Division and Inspector General of
Police Kashmir Shiv Murari Sahai.
The other police officers to attend the meeting
included SP Baramulla M A Untoo, SP Sopore Mohammad Altaf
Khan, SP Kupwara V K Birdhi and SP Handwara Rafiq Vakil. The
Deputy Commissioners of the three districts also attended the
meeting, the sources said.