Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has lauded the security forces for dealing with internal and external threats in Jammu and Kashmir and assured them of the Centre’s full support in maintaining peace in the State.

Shinde, who chaired the Unified Headquarters meeting here this morning, appreciated the way army, police, CRPF and BSF have dealt with law and order problems, militancy within the State and infiltration bids from across the Line of Control, official sources said.

They said the Home Minister, however, asked the security grid to remain alert ahead of the winter as there might be attempts from across the LoC to push in militants into the Kashmir Valley.

Shinde was briefed about the various measures taken to check infiltration and on the counter-insurgency operations in the hinterland, they said.

The security of panches and sarpanches also came up for discussion during the meeting, the sources said, adding that the Home Minister has asked the State Government and security officials to take steps that will ensure a general sense of security among the grassroots level representatives.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, senior police officers, army officers, intelligence agency heads in the state and representatives of the paramilitary forces attended the meeting.

The Home Minister, who arrived on a three-day visit to the State yesterday, will visit the Dal Lake later to assess the conservation and preservation works carried out so far. The Centre has sanctioned over Rs 350 crore for saving it.

He is also scheduled to visit Hazratbal Shrine on the banks of the lake.

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