CM chairs crucial cabinet meet

Srinagar, Apr 23: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday chaired a crucial cabinet meeting in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead and many injured.
Sources said that the Chief Minister chaired the meeting at his Gupkar residence. The meeting was attended by all his cabinet colleagues.
They said that the meeting took strong note of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists including a local horse ride operator on Tuesday afternoon. “The meeting also discussed the prevailing situation arising out of the terror attack,” they said.
Sources also said that the meeting discussed that the employees engaged under the PM package be allowed to work from home for a week in view of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The cabinet also discussed provision to provide more compensation to the families of victims and those injured in the attack. The government already announced Rs 10 each to the families of those killed in the attack and Rs 2 lakh to grievously injured and Rs 1 lakh to those with minor injuries. However, it also discussed provisions to provide more assistance to the attack victims,” they said.
Sources added that the meeting also discussed several issues and ways to tackle situation that may arise in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the deadly terror attack.
26 tourists including a local horse ride operator were killed after terrorists opened fire at a group of tourists in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon.
The attack left the entire nation in shock with people across abroad condemning the attack. It also evoked widespread condemnation from across the globe with countries like the US, Russia, Iran, France, UK and others expressing solidarity with India.
Soon after the attack Home Minister Amit Shah landed in Srinagar to chair a high-level meeting with all security agencies. He was also brief by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about the incident. The Home Minister also visited the terror attack site on Wednesday afternoon to take first hand stock of the situation and the ongoing anti-terror operation in the area.
The Home Minister later flew back to Delhi to attend the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi. (KNO)