Amit Shah to begin Jammu and Kashmir visit with prayers at Amarnath Cave

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah will begin his two-day maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday by paying obeisance at the Amarnath Cave Shrine.

A source privy to the schedule of the Union Home Minister's visit said Shah will arrive in Srinagar today and take a chopper to reach the Amarnath Cave shrine to pay obeisance there.

"A special prayer is being organised by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board in which Shah will take part at the Cave Shrine today," the source said.

This year's annual Amarnath Yatra begins on July 1 and will end on August 15.

After having ‘Darshan' inside the Cave Shrine the Union Home Minister will chair a high level security review meeting pertaining to the security arrangements made to ensure an incident free Yatra this year.

"This will be followed by another security meeting to review the overall security in the state and the counter insurgency measures.

"The Home Minister will interact with state Governor, Satya Pal Malik and spend the night at the Raj Bhawan", same source said.

Shah will meet state BJP leaders and also members of Panchayats at the Nehru Guest House in Cheshma Shahi area of Srinagar city tomorrow.

He will also meet delegations of civil society members, delegation of people connected with tourism and some youth delegations.

Before flying back to Delhi, the union home minister is likely to address a media conference in Srinagar tomorrow.

Shah is not visiting Jammu and Ladakh divisions of the state during his maiden visit to the state after taking over as the country's home minister.

Security has been beefed up on Shah's visit to the Valley. Restrictions on movement of traffic have been announced for two days on the Boulevard Road that goes round the Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Shah's main activities during his two-day visit are taking place at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC), Nehru Guest House and the state Raj Bhawan.

All these venues are located close to the Boulevard Road in Srinagar.