Srinagar, Jul 24 (KNS): Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi to take stock of the prevailing situation in Kashmir especially the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and prevailing peaceful situation in the Valley.

The Home Minister, according to reliable source, in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) lauded the role of security forces in managing the Yatra in a peaceful manner. They said Shah chaired meeting at his office with his deputy and in-charge Kashmir affairs, G K Reddy and other important dignitaries.

“Home Minister expressed his gratitude to the security agencies including Jammu and Kashmir police for maintaining peace and managing the annual pilgrimage in a professional and efficient manner. The Home Minister directed the security agencies in Kashmir to continue the momentum and to ensure forces inimical to peace are kept at a bay,” an MHA official, who was present in the meeting told KNS.

The annual pilgrimage started in Kashmir on July 1 and so far over three lakh yatries have performed the pilgrimage. So-far, no untoward incident has occurred anywhere in Kashmir.

Sources said that the Union Minister also hailed the police and other agencies for an overall peaceful situation in Kashmir. “The Home Minister expressed satisfaction over the change in law and order situation and overall peaceful scenario prevailing in the state, especially in Kashmir,” they said.

The sources added that the Home Minister asked the security forces to keep the momentum going and to ensure that situation remains under control for the rest of the year. “Strict directions were passed for dealing with the militants as the Home Minister reiterated his policy of zero tolerance for militancy in Kashmir,” he said and called for maintaining synergy among all the security agencies while tackling militancy. (KNS)