In less than a week after the Centre have rushed 10,000 troops to Jammu and Kashmir, the government on 1st August, Thursday have deployed another 25,000 paramilitary personnel. According to reports, the additional troops started arriving in the state on 1st August, Thursday morning and are being deployed in various parts.
KRC TIMES Desk
Two massive troops deployment has fuelled speculations in Kashmir. Kashmir is currently under the President’s rule and there is no elected government in the state.
The Centre had rushed of 10,000 troops to Kashmir Valley last week only. Weeks after, an additional of 25,000 paramilitary personnel have also been deployed. Home Ministry official have said it was aimed at strengthening “counter-insurgent grid” as well as maintaining the law and order within the state.
The decision on last Saturday came after National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval returned from a two-day visit from Kashmir Valley, during which he reviewed the law and order situation in the state. Doval, during his two-day visit to the state, met senior state government officials and top Army commanders who briefed him about the ground situation there.
Dilbag Singh, the Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, had earlier, too, requested for the deployment of additional central para-military troops to maintain the law and order situation in the state.
On Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said there is no plan to scrap Article 35A, which defines permanent residents of the state and bars outsiders from purchasing and owning immovable property.
Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended till August 4. While the government cited adverse weather conditions as a cause, but the weather department has not predicted any major change in conditions. Official sources say a section of troops deployed for the Yatra are also being moved for some impending law and order duty. Around 400 companies, which constitute about 40,000 personnel, are deployed for the yatra’s security. Sources say all security formations have been asked to remain in a state of readiness.
However, the move was criticised by both the National Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). Former J&K chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said the Centre’s move to deploy additional troops will create an environment of fear amongst the residents.
The PDP leader also said that the Centre’s decision to deploy additional 10,000 troops to the valley has created fear psychosis amongst people. There is no dearth of security forces in Kashmir. J&K is a political problem which won’t be solved by military means. She said that the Government of India needs to rethink & overhaul its policies.
Omar Abdullah, another former Chief Minister of the state, while tweeting said, “special law & order duties” were mentioned said, “the BJP & the government need to coordinate better instead of lying.”
The fresh deployment of troops comes amid a meeting between Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq Abdullah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, he said to have requested the Prime Minister that no precipitous steps of any sort should be taken that may result in a situation in the state. Particularly worsening the valley. He had been specifically requested to let subjudice matters be settled by the courts & other matters be settled by an elected government.
Dr. Abdulla is said to have requested the PM to take all necessary steps to facilitate the @ECISVEEP’s conduct of assembly polls before the onset of winter as J&K has been without an elected government for well over a year now.
The army chief General Bipin Rawat has arrived in Srinagar on Thursday to review the security preparations in Kashmir. The defence spokesperson said the army chief will be in Kashmir for two days.
