Central team reviews security in J&K

A Central delegation headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday on a day-long visit.

Jammu: A Central delegation headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth arrived here on Saturday on a day-long visit to review the security situation, development and employment initiatives.

The Cabinet Secretary met Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here and discussed issues related to security and development. Advisor to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Skill Development, Subramanian Ramadorai, also had a separate meeting with the Governor during which skill development programmes, including Udaan and Himayat and employment opportunities for the educated youth of Jammu and Kashmir were discussed. Cabinet Secretary Seth earlier called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at his residence here. The two are said to have discussed developmental issues of the state during the meeting, including the state government`s demand for Rs 30,000 crore worth City Mobility Plan for twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. Omar Abdullah had taken up this demand with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram in January this year to cope with the ever-increasing demands of the cities, including metro services to refuse traffic congestion. The Central delegation also had a high-level security review meeting at the State Guest House here with officers of the State Government. Senior officers of the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, civil administration, intelligence agencies and senior police officers attended the meeting. The security situation has been causing concern following recent militancy related incidents including the fidayeen attack at Bemina, Srinagar, in which five CRPF personnel were killed. Two police constables and some civilians have also been killed in the incidents. The Central delegation was expected to review issues like security scenario within Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Line of Control (LoC), International Border (IB), presence of militants across the border, Rehabilitation Policy and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The Omar Abdullah Government had been pressing for partial revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), a demand that has not found favour with the Defence Ministry and the Indian Army. The delegation also reviewed centrally sponsored schemes, including Prime Minister`s Re-construction Plan and other mega projects, which were funded by the Centre Government in a meeting with Administrative Secretaries of the State and Directors of some important areas. The delegation was earlier scheduled to visit here on March 19, but the visit had to be postponed in view of Parliament session in New Delhi and the Budget Session of the State Legislature in Jammu. ANI