Chidambaram visits BSF post near LoC

Srinagar, Jun 22 (PTI) Indian Home Minister P
Chidambaram Wednesday visited a forward post of Border
Security Force (BSF) in Gurez sector near the Line of Control
(LoC) before winding up his two-day visit to the northern
Indian state Jammu and Kashmir during which he reviewed the
security situation in the state.
Chidambaram visited the forward post of BSF in Gurez
in Bandipora district Wednesday morning. He was accompanied by
Director General BSF, Raman Shrivastava, officials said here.
The Home Minister interacted with the officers and
jawans near the LoC and was briefed about the
counter-infiltration measures taken by BSF in the area, the
officials said.
Chidambaram flew back to Delhi soon after his return
from Gurez, they said.
Chidambaram Tuesday reviewed the overall security
situation in the state and also took stock of the arrangements
for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage.
Chidambaram also chaired a high-level meeting here in
the presence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
and discussed in detail the prevailing situation.
Chidambaram congratulated the Chief Minister for
holding the panchayat elections in a peaceful and fair manner,
he said.
Meanwhile, Chidambaram on Monday went on a quiet tour
to the downtown Srinagar, the hot bed last year’s summer
unrest, to get first hand understanding of the city, officials
said.
Chidambaram, soon after his meeting with Governor N N
Vohra on Monday, decided to take the tour of the old city and
went to Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta, Gojwara, Qammerwari, Bemina,
Safakdal, Edigah and Khanyar areas, the officials said.
They said instead of taking his motorcade, the Indian
Home Minister got into the car of Director General of Police,
Kuldeep Khoda at around 7.00 pm (IST) when the markets around
the city were still abuzz with activity.
"It was an on the spot decision and no prior
information was given to the security grid, which could have
caused inconvenience to the general public," the officials
said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed the Home
Minister's city tour on his twitter page Tuesday saying no
one was aware of Chidambaram's presence till it concluded.
"Well, actually he (Chidambaram) spent more than an
hour driving around down town Srinagar and I don't (think)
anyone even knew he was there," Omar wrote.
Before concluding his state visit Wednesday,
Chidambaram called Governor N N Vohra and interacted with him
for nearly 30 minutes, an official spokesman said.
He exchanged views on certain matters which they had
discussed earlier, the spokesman said.