Army Chief to visit Jammu and Kashmir today to take stock of situation

New Delhi: Army Chief General Dalbir Suhag will on Wednesday visit Jammu to take stock of the situation as violence continued in the Kashmir Valley.

The death toll stands at 65 in the weeks of Kashmir unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of rebel commander Burhan Wani.

Incidentally, Eastern Command chief Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, who is slated to be the next Army chief, will also be present in Jammu today.

Defence sources said Lt Gen Bakshi will be there to participate in a regimental ceremony but could take part in the review meeting.

General Suhag will be meeting Northern Army commander Lt Gen DS Hooda and other top security officials.

Security forces on Tuesday fired at stone pelting mobs at two places in the Kashmir Valley, leaving five civilians dead in a sudden escalation of violence, officials said.

In Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a security review meeting on Kashmir and told officials to restore peace in the Valley with minimum casualties.