New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have expressed his 'unhappiness' over the media coverage on violent protests in Kashmir Valley following killing of Burhan Wani saying the Hizbul Mujahideen militant has been portrayed as a "hero".
The Prime Minister conveyed his views at the high-level meeting he convened this morning to review the situation arising in Jammu and Kashmir after Wani's killing in an encounter, news agency PTI said citing sources privy to the meeting.
At the meeting attended by top Union ministers and officials, the PM was given a detailed briefing about Wani, the encounter, the subsequent protests and drowning of a policeman.
Modi was believed to have expressed 'unhappiness' over the media coverage of Kashmir situation saying a militant, who was involved in terror activities and was working for disintegrating the country, has been portrayed as "hero", giving more traction to his followers to whip up frenzy, sources said.
The Prime Minister has also cited over a dozen cases registered against Wani, most of which were serious in nature under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Modi reviewed the situation and appealed for calm with the hope that no innocent person would face an inconvenience or suffer any loss.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were in attendance during the meeting.
The meeting also reviewed the Rs 80,000 crore financial package announced by the NDA government for Jammu and Kashmir and its implementation.
In the meeting, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar briefed the Prime Minister on Pakistan's response to Wani's death, including the statement issued by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, statement by their Foreign Office and summoning of Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale by Foreign Office in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, sources said, the Home Ministry was worried over the situation in Kashmir Valley in next two days. July 13 (tomorrow) is commemorated as "martyrs day" in Kashmir and Friday is the 'jumme ki namaz'.
Intelligence agencies have reported that Pakistan-supported groups have been trying to incite violence in next two days, sources said.
On Tuesday, Amir Nazir Latoo, who was injured in firing at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s hometown in Bijbehara, succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Srinagar, doctors said.
The latest death took the toll to 33, including a police driver, who was drowned by an angry mob in the Jhelum river near Sangam village.
All business and other aspects of normal life remained completely paralysed. Mobile internet facility remained cut off across the valley and cell phone operations in south Kashmir's Shopian, Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama districts also remained suspended.
Train services were also suspended for a fourth day as protesters damaged railway tracks at many places in south Kashmir.
There was an eerie calm on Srinagar’s deserted streets, with no reports of fresh protests in the state capital.
