Amit Shah to Visit Jammu and Poonch Amid Security Push Post-‘Operation Sindoor’
Jammu, May 28 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Jammu on Thursday evening for a two-day visit to the Union Territory, marking his first trip since the recent counter-terror operation dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’.
According to the official itinerary, Shah will land in Jammu around 7 PM on Thursday. Shortly after arrival, he will chair a high-level security review meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials from the security and intelligence establishment. The meeting will focus on counter-terrorism strategies and security preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, set to commence on July 3.
Sources say heightened cross-border threats from Pakistan, reportedly in retaliation for ‘Operation Sindoor’, have necessitated reinforced security protocols for the annual pilgrimage.
After spending the night at Raj Bhawan, Jammu, Amit Shah is expected to travel to Poonch district at 10 AM on May 30. He will assess damages caused by recent cross-border shelling and interact with affected families. A special relief package is likely to be announced for the victims.
Poonch has suffered the most extensive damage from recent Pakistani shelling, with 13 civilian fatalities and approximately 700 homes damaged.
Earlier, on May 26, senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, stated during a press briefing that the central government had, in principle, approved a relief package to assist in the reconstruction of 1,500–2,000 homes and structures damaged in the shelling. The aid is expected to be disbursed directly to beneficiaries via Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs).
This recommendation was part of a comprehensive report submitted by a five-member BJP committee constituted to evaluate the ground situation. The committee’s report, already shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Lieutenant Governor, outlined three primary demands:
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Immediate construction of individual and community bunkers to protect civilians.
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Government jobs for families who lost a member in the shelling.
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Enhanced compensation for damaged homes, exceeding the current Rs 1.2 lakh cap under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms.
This marks Amit Shah’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 unarmed civilians, including 25 tourists, were killed. Following that attack, Shah had visited Kashmir the same evening, met with victims’ families, and chaired top-level security discussions.
While the itinerary for this visit is largely set, officials have indicated that last-minute changes remain a possibility.