Rajnath postpones Russia, US visits after Uri attack; holds emergency meeting

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday postponed his scheduled visit to Russia and the United States in the wake of the attack in Uriand the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir and called an emergency meeting to review the situation arising out of the terror strike.

Singh also spoke to the Jammu and Kashmir governor and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on the situation in Uri and both of them apprised him of the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Delhi: High level security meet to take place at HM Rajnath Singh's residence shortly, MHA & MoD officials to attend pic.twitter.com/QZSTJo3vvL

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2016

The home minister was scheduled to leave for Russia on Sunday night for a four-day bilateral visit and later to the US on September 26 for a six-day tour to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue.

“Keeping the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in mind and in the wake of terror attack in Uri, I have postponed my visits to Russia and the US,” he said in a statement in New Delhi.

“I have given instructions to home secretary (Rajiv Mehrishi) and other officers in the home ministry to closely monitor the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

#WATCH HM Rajnath Singh chairs high level security meet in Delhi. NSA, Home Secy,IB Chief present #UriAttack pic.twitter.com/vjpQPq9QTD

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2016

Terror struck an Army camp in North Kashmir’s Uri town when militants stormed a battalion headquarters in the early hours on Sunday, leaving at least 17 soldiers dead. Four militants were also been killed.

The home minister also called an emergency meeting to review the situation arising out of the attack on the Brigade Headquarters in Uri.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Union home secretary, top Army, paramilitary and Home Ministry officials are attending it.

Delhi: NSA Ajit Doval arrives at HM Rajnath Singh's residence to attend High level security meet pic.twitter.com/4sgGaEsLLa

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2016

More than 80 people have been killed in the unrest in Kashmir Valley in the last two months ever since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.

This was for the second time that Singh has cancelled his trip to the US due to violence in Kashmir. Earlier, he was scheduled to leave for the US on July 17 for a week-long visit but it was postponed due to sudden eruption of violence in Kashmir after Wani’s killing.

First Published: Sep 18, 2016 11:25 IST