With panchayat polls round the corner amid outrage over civilian killings by government forces in Kashmir, the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is chairing a meeting of the unified headquarters (UHQ) in Jammu on Tuesday to discuss “several crucial matters”, a source said on Sunday.
The source said that the UHQ, a body comprising topmost officers of various security and intelligence agencies operating in Kashmir, shall review the security situation in Kashmir and the hinterland and other related issues, including probably the upcoming panchayat polls beginning February 15.
The meeting comes days after a HizbulMujahideen commander, in a purported audio-clip, threatened to “pour acid” into the eyes of those who will contest the panchayat polls, sending the security establishment across the state into a tizzy.
The meeting, the source said, also assumes significance in the wake of fresh outrage over civilian killings by government forces in Kashmir, the recurring cordon-and-search operations in the Valley and “continued” recruitment of local youth into the militant ranks.
A top official said that the holding of UHQ meeting was decided on Saturday evening.
“During the meeting, the chief minister will be briefed about several crucial issues including the emerging security scenario in Kashmir and along the borders,” the official said, adding that the participants may also deliberate on “efforts being made at the political and civil society levels to revive the peace and reconciliation process for the larger good of the people.”
The official said that during the meeting, decisions taken in previous UHQ meetings will also be reviewed.