New Delhi/Srinagar, Oct. 27 The Centre has reportedly directed the Jammu and Kashmir Government and security forces in the state to step up vigil following intelligence inputs that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin has asked his cadres to step up violence ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the region.

The Prime Minister will undertake a two-day visit to the state on October 28 and 29 during which he will inaugurate the Anantnag-Qazigund section of the Kashmir rail link project.

A senior Home Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told a private channel that intelligence agencies have intercepted communications between the Hizbul headquarters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and cadres operating in Kashmir which suggested that Salahuddin was very upset over the killing of top Hizb militant Omer Maviya and wanted revenge.

According to the intercepts, Salahuddin has directed his cadres to step up violence ahead of the Prime Minister's visit and disrupt his programmes.

In the wake of these intercepts, security forces have been deployed in all sensitive areas and searches are also being carried out in specific pockets to flush out militants. (ANI)