The overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir -- including checking cross-border infiltration and providing security to panch and sarpanch -- was reviewed at a high-level meeting of the unified headquarters co-chaired by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Saturday.  

Issues related to maintenance of peace, upgrading vigil and curbing incidents aimed at disturbing tranquility and threatening innocent grass-root public representatives were discussed threadbare in the meeting, an official statement said.   

"Issues relating to infiltration, security cover to panchayat members in vulnerable areas and arrangements put in place to conduct block development council election were also discussed in the meeting," it said.

"Later, in a separate meeting, the chief minister discussed various outstanding issues with the Centre. The chief minister stressed on an additional package of assistance to the state government for subsidising additional LPG cylinders for the consumers of the state," the statement said.

"The chief minister also emphasised the need for approval by the central government to the proposal of the state government for enhancing the assistance package to Kashmiri Pandits," said the statement.

Omar and Shinde on Saturday evening visited various areas in Srinagar including Lal Chowk, Polo View, Hari Singh Street, Jahangir Chowk, Sangermal Shopping Plaza, among others.

Image: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde at a market in Srinagar | Photograph: Umar Ganie