Srinagar, June 28: On the concluding leg of his visit to J&K, President Kalam will address Indian troops in the Uri area, which borders Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and meet state lawmakers. The President will also visit the Hazratbal mosque in Srinagar. He flew yesterday night from Ladakh.
Kalam will stay at the Governor's residence overlooking the picturesque Dal lake, which was being patrolled by troops in motor-boats. Police and paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have intensified patrols in all sensitive areas, witnesses said.
"We have made adequate security arrangements for the visit," said K Rajindra Kumar, police chief in the Kashmir Valley.
He is due to visit the state-run Moulana Azad Women's College on Saturday, which is in an area that has seen repeated militant attacks. Kalam will be the eighth president to visit the college, but the first to be entertained by cultural programmes since the eruption of an anti-Indian rebellion in the region in 1989.
"The President will be greeted with a Wanwun," said student Bilkees Ahmed, referring to traditional welcome songs sung by women during marriage ceremonies in the state. "We will also be presenting other traditional forms of dance, songs and music during his stay in the college," she said.
Female dancing performances before Indian leaders usually anger separatists. The rebellion has left more than 38,000 people dead. Separatists put the toll twice as high.
His trip is the first by a president to Srinagar since 1997.
Bureau Report