Kashmir : Counter Terror Operation Updates and Discussions
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Something is about to happen, something is definitely about to happen. Everybody is preparing for an upcoming event leading to a crisis, even the RFP.
RPF asks staff to prepare for impending unrest in Kashmir, Railways says directions not authorised
The RPF had earlier issued a set of directions for its staff in case of an "emergency situation in the Valley for an extended period of time".
By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu, New Delhi
July 28, 2019
UPDATED: July 28, 2019 20:34 IST
The security agencies had earlier sent an input regarding the prediction of deteriorating situation in the Kashmir Valley. (Photo: Reuters)
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) held a security meeting in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on Saturday after the security agencies sent an input regarding the prediction of deteriorating situation in the Kashmir Valley.
After the meeting, the RPF issued a set of directions for its staff in case of an "emergency situation in the Valley for an extended period of time". A copy of the directions is with India Today TV. The precautionary security measures include purchase and storage of at least four-month dry ration and water to "meet any crisis situation".
The Railways has, however, said that the directions are "without any basis" and "not authorised".
In an official statement, the railways said, "The Senior Divisional Security Commissioner had proceeded on one year study leave on July 26, 2019. The next in line had issued this letter based on his own perception which has no basis and is not authorised to issue any such letter."
"It is also clarified the letter does not have any approval from the authorising authority. IG (NR) RPF is being sent to Kashmir to assess the situation and take corrective action," the official statement read.
The letter, which was issued earlier by the RPF, stated that the meeting was held "as per the inputs received from different security agencies and SSP/GRP/SINA regarding forecast of a deteriorating situation in Kashmir Valley and the issue of law and order for a long period."
The steps discussed in the meeting also include "no negotiation with the mob". It said, "There should be no negotiation with mob and mob should not be allowed to come near railway installations if it happens as insurgents may be in the mob."
The railway staff were also asked to shift their families with their relatives or at their native places as "it would be safer over there for their families". The precautionary measures have also been issued for the Amarnath pilgrims.
"Nobody should keep their family or relative in Kashmir Valley who may have come for the Amarnath Yatra. They should be sent back to their native places for safety reasons by July 28," it said, adding, "The administration will not hold any responsibility for eventuality".
It said, "In case of suspension of trains, DME/BDGM should ensure that the rakes are placed for safety reasons during the crisis situation as precautionary measures."
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah slammed the government after the precautionary measures released by the RPF went viral.
In a tweet, Omar Abdullah said, "It’s easy to blame valley residents for fear-mongering but what are we to make of such official orders which forecast deterioration in the law and order environment and even predict disturbances lasting for an extended period of time? Why is the government silent?"
RPF asks staff to prepare for impending unrest in Kashmir, Railways says directions not authorised
RPF asks staff to prepare for impending unrest in Kashmir, Railways says directions not authorised
The RPF had earlier issued a set of directions for its staff in case of an "emergency situation in the Valley for an extended period of time".
By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu, New Delhi
July 28, 2019
UPDATED: July 28, 2019 20:34 IST
The security agencies had earlier sent an input regarding the prediction of deteriorating situation in the Kashmir Valley. (Photo: Reuters)
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) held a security meeting in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on Saturday after the security agencies sent an input regarding the prediction of deteriorating situation in the Kashmir Valley.
After the meeting, the RPF issued a set of directions for its staff in case of an "emergency situation in the Valley for an extended period of time". A copy of the directions is with India Today TV. The precautionary security measures include purchase and storage of at least four-month dry ration and water to "meet any crisis situation".
The Railways has, however, said that the directions are "without any basis" and "not authorised".
In an official statement, the railways said, "The Senior Divisional Security Commissioner had proceeded on one year study leave on July 26, 2019. The next in line had issued this letter based on his own perception which has no basis and is not authorised to issue any such letter."
"It is also clarified the letter does not have any approval from the authorising authority. IG (NR) RPF is being sent to Kashmir to assess the situation and take corrective action," the official statement read.
The letter, which was issued earlier by the RPF, stated that the meeting was held "as per the inputs received from different security agencies and SSP/GRP/SINA regarding forecast of a deteriorating situation in Kashmir Valley and the issue of law and order for a long period."
The steps discussed in the meeting also include "no negotiation with the mob". It said, "There should be no negotiation with mob and mob should not be allowed to come near railway installations if it happens as insurgents may be in the mob."
The railway staff were also asked to shift their families with their relatives or at their native places as "it would be safer over there for their families". The precautionary measures have also been issued for the Amarnath pilgrims.
"Nobody should keep their family or relative in Kashmir Valley who may have come for the Amarnath Yatra. They should be sent back to their native places for safety reasons by July 28," it said, adding, "The administration will not hold any responsibility for eventuality".
It said, "In case of suspension of trains, DME/BDGM should ensure that the rakes are placed for safety reasons during the crisis situation as precautionary measures."
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah slammed the government after the precautionary measures released by the RPF went viral.
In a tweet, Omar Abdullah said, "It’s easy to blame valley residents for fear-mongering but what are we to make of such official orders which forecast deterioration in the law and order environment and even predict disturbances lasting for an extended period of time? Why is the government silent?"
RPF asks staff to prepare for impending unrest in Kashmir, Railways says directions not authorised
RAW officer Johri appointed as new BSF DG
28 July 2019 Last Updated at 9:06 pm | Source: PTI
New Delhi, Jul 28 IPS officer V K Johri has been appointed as the next Director General (DG) of country''s largest border guarding force, BSF, an official order said Sunday.
The order has been issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) that is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has Home Minister Amit Shah as its member.
Johri, a 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, is presently serving as the Special Secretary in the external intelligence agency RAW, under the Cabinet Secretariat.
He will take over the charge of the Border Security Force from incumbent Rajni Kanti Mishra, who retires on August 31.
The order also stated that Johri has been appointed as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Union home ministry with "immediate effect."
Johri will attain superannuation in September, 2020, the order stated.
The BSF, with a present strength of about 2.5 lakh personnel, is country''s largest border guarding force and is tasked to secure two of India''s most important and sensitive fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The two other border guarding forces are ITBP (China) and SSB (Nepal and Bhutan).
RAW officer Johri appointed as new BSF DG
28 July 2019 Last Updated at 9:06 pm | Source: PTI
New Delhi, Jul 28 IPS officer V K Johri has been appointed as the next Director General (DG) of country''s largest border guarding force, BSF, an official order said Sunday.
The order has been issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) that is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has Home Minister Amit Shah as its member.
Johri, a 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, is presently serving as the Special Secretary in the external intelligence agency RAW, under the Cabinet Secretariat.
He will take over the charge of the Border Security Force from incumbent Rajni Kanti Mishra, who retires on August 31.
The order also stated that Johri has been appointed as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Union home ministry with "immediate effect."
Johri will attain superannuation in September, 2020, the order stated.
The BSF, with a present strength of about 2.5 lakh personnel, is country''s largest border guarding force and is tasked to secure two of India''s most important and sensitive fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The two other border guarding forces are ITBP (China) and SSB (Nepal and Bhutan).
RAW officer Johri appointed as new BSF DG
Though this may not be the reason but a terror attack is not that unreal possibility infact everytime Pakistan has got blessings of US they have taken it to settle some score doesn't matter if things get sour with US later on. They are encouraged by US and they will end up with musculation, exactly like Pulwama.
Amit Shah and his team of 16 working on Kashmir, NRC
by IANS
Updated : July 29, 2019 10:00 AM IST
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Prime Minister's most trusted lieutenant in Modi 2.0, is learnt to be focusing on vital aspects of national security with 16 key bureaucrats to fix the structural crises—the insurgency in Kashmir, the NRC, and the situation in Northeast and Maoist-affected areas.
With the policy of an iron fist for terrorism in the velvet glove of "vikas and vishwas" (development and trust), he is formulating measures to deal with these challenges with a core team that includes some new and some old faces.
At the helm in the crucial Ministry in North Block, Shah is reportedly relying on these key bureaucrats that include 16 senior male and two female officials drawn from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).
Of these officials, two hold posts of Secretaries, three are Special Secretaries, three Additional Secretaries and eight are Joint Secretaries.
The officials, sources said, have started streamlining their tasks under newly-appointed Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, a 1984 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS official, who was on July 24 appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Ministry.
Bhalla will take over as the new Home Secretary, succeeding incumbent Rajiv Gauba who retires on August 31. He would assist Shah with his experiences during his two-year tenure till August 2021.
Shah's Private Secretary Saket Kumar is also among his top team members. A 2009-batch IAS from Bihar cadre, Kumar, as per current deputation, would be assisting the Home Minister till July 29, 2023.
Others key officials of the team include Secretary, Official Language, Shailesh, Secretary, Border Management, B.R. Sharma, Special Secretary, Internal Security, A.P. Maheshwari, Special Secretary and Financial Advisor Bhupendra Singh, Special Secretary, Centre-State, Satpal Chouhan, Additional Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Gyanesh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Union Territories, Govind Mohan and Additional Secretary, PM, Vivek Bhardwaj.
Joint Secretary, Left-Wing Extremism, Praveen Vashista, Joint Secretary, Northeast, Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary, Foreigners, Anil Malik, Joint Secretary, Border Management-I, A.V. Dharma Reddy, Joint Secretary, Police-I and Police-II, Amitabha Kharkwal and Joint Secretary, Internal Security-I, S.C.L. Das are among others in the team.
The two women officials include Joint Secretary, Women Safety (with an additional charge of Internal Security-II), Punya Salila Srivastava and Joint Secretary, Border Management-II, Nidhi Khare.
Maheshwari, a 1984 batch IPS officer, appointed to the Ministry in February beginning to replace Rina Mitra, has been reportedly got Shah's approval to deal with internal security matters with a more muscular approach to maintain law and order. He will hold the post till his retirement on February 28, 2021.
Additional Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Gyanesh Kumar and Joint Secretary, Northeast, Garg will be assisting Shah in dealing issues of insurgency in the Valley and completion of the National Register of Citizen (NRC) in Assam, respectively.
Besides the Team 16, the Home Minister's juniors Nityanand Rai and G. Kishan Reddy, both holding charges of Minister of State for Home, would be playing a crucial role in completing his five-year target.
Reflecting his indisputable trust in Amit Shah, who continues to be BJP President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inducted the first-time Union Minister into eight cabinet committees after forming the government for the second time.
Modi's most trusted lieutenant since the 1980s when both started their political careers in Gujarat, he made a grand entry in the Union Cabinet on May 31 replacing Rajnath Singh, who has moved to the Defence Ministry across the road in South Block.
Emerging from the backstage, from where he directed the BJP's spectacular ascent, he is in the forefront of Modi 2.0 government.
Amit Shah and his team of 16 working on Kashmir, NRC
by IANS
Updated : July 29, 2019 10:00 AM IST
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Prime Minister's most trusted lieutenant in Modi 2.0, is learnt to be focusing on vital aspects of national security with 16 key bureaucrats to fix the structural crises—the insurgency in Kashmir, the NRC, and the situation in Northeast and Maoist-affected areas.
With the policy of an iron fist for terrorism in the velvet glove of "vikas and vishwas" (development and trust), he is formulating measures to deal with these challenges with a core team that includes some new and some old faces.
At the helm in the crucial Ministry in North Block, Shah is reportedly relying on these key bureaucrats that include 16 senior male and two female officials drawn from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).
Of these officials, two hold posts of Secretaries, three are Special Secretaries, three Additional Secretaries and eight are Joint Secretaries.
The officials, sources said, have started streamlining their tasks under newly-appointed Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, a 1984 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS official, who was on July 24 appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Ministry.
Bhalla will take over as the new Home Secretary, succeeding incumbent Rajiv Gauba who retires on August 31. He would assist Shah with his experiences during his two-year tenure till August 2021.
Shah's Private Secretary Saket Kumar is also among his top team members. A 2009-batch IAS from Bihar cadre, Kumar, as per current deputation, would be assisting the Home Minister till July 29, 2023.
Others key officials of the team include Secretary, Official Language, Shailesh, Secretary, Border Management, B.R. Sharma, Special Secretary, Internal Security, A.P. Maheshwari, Special Secretary and Financial Advisor Bhupendra Singh, Special Secretary, Centre-State, Satpal Chouhan, Additional Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Gyanesh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Union Territories, Govind Mohan and Additional Secretary, PM, Vivek Bhardwaj.
Joint Secretary, Left-Wing Extremism, Praveen Vashista, Joint Secretary, Northeast, Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary, Foreigners, Anil Malik, Joint Secretary, Border Management-I, A.V. Dharma Reddy, Joint Secretary, Police-I and Police-II, Amitabha Kharkwal and Joint Secretary, Internal Security-I, S.C.L. Das are among others in the team.
The two women officials include Joint Secretary, Women Safety (with an additional charge of Internal Security-II), Punya Salila Srivastava and Joint Secretary, Border Management-II, Nidhi Khare.
Maheshwari, a 1984 batch IPS officer, appointed to the Ministry in February beginning to replace Rina Mitra, has been reportedly got Shah's approval to deal with internal security matters with a more muscular approach to maintain law and order. He will hold the post till his retirement on February 28, 2021.
Additional Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Gyanesh Kumar and Joint Secretary, Northeast, Garg will be assisting Shah in dealing issues of insurgency in the Valley and completion of the National Register of Citizen (NRC) in Assam, respectively.
Besides the Team 16, the Home Minister's juniors Nityanand Rai and G. Kishan Reddy, both holding charges of Minister of State for Home, would be playing a crucial role in completing his five-year target.
Reflecting his indisputable trust in Amit Shah, who continues to be BJP President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inducted the first-time Union Minister into eight cabinet committees after forming the government for the second time.
Modi's most trusted lieutenant since the 1980s when both started their political careers in Gujarat, he made a grand entry in the Union Cabinet on May 31 replacing Rajnath Singh, who has moved to the Defence Ministry across the road in South Block.
Emerging from the backstage, from where he directed the BJP's spectacular ascent, he is in the forefront of Modi 2.0 government.
Amit Shah and his team of 16 working on Kashmir, NRC
What about poor f****er Trump and his mediation. First India officially calls him a liar, and then slaps him by removing article 35a (hopefully). Poor coward is being humiliated by Iran too. Got into a maximum pressure campaign without the courage to follow through with a military strike when necessary.
Humiliated by Kim too , North Korea tested missiles after Trumpy visit
Zonal SPs asked to provide list of mosques in Srinagar
Srinagar , July 29, 2019, 2:34 PM
"Please provide details of mosques and their managements falling without your respective jurisdictions as per enclosed proforma to this office immediately for onward submission to higher authorities"
A fresh order directing the five zonal superintendents of police to provide the list of mosques in the city and its management committees has added to the speculation about some major decision in the offing regarding Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
“Please provide details of mosques and their managements falling without your respective jurisdictions as per enclosed proforma to this office immediately for onward submission to higher authorities,” according an order issued by the Srinagar senior superintendent of police to the zonal SPs on Sunday night.
The order, which is being widely circulated on social media, has added to the speculation that the Centre might have plans to do away with Article 35A, which gives exclusive rights to the state’s residents in government jobs and land.
These speculations have dominated the discourse in Kashmir over the past few days after the Centre decided to rush an additional 100 companies of central armed paramilitary forces to the valley. The mainstream political parties have vowed to resist any such move to tinker with the special status.
On Saturday, a letter by a Railway Protection Force (RPF) official in Budgam asking employees to stock ration for at least four months and take other steps due to “forecast of deteriorating situation” in the Kashmir Valley “for a long period” created a flutter.
“As per inputs received from different security agencies and SSP/GRP/SINA (senior superintendent of police, Government Railway Police, Srinagar) regarding forecast of deteriorating situation in Kashmir valley and issue of law and order for a long period, a precautionary security meeting was held on July 27,” the letter by Sudesh Nugyal, assistant security commissioner, RPF, Budgam, reads.
The official asked the employees to take various precautionary measures like storing drinking water for seven days and fill vehicles fully to deal with the issue of law and order for a long period as there is a “forecast of deteriorating situation” in the valley.
The railways, however, clarified that the communication had no basis and the official had no authority to issue it.
National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah had questioned the motive behind such a missive.
“It’s easy to blame valley residents for fear-mongering but what are we to make of such official orders which forecast a deterioration in the law & order environment and even predict disturbances lasting for an extended period of time? Why is the Govt silent?” Abdullah asked.
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti also warned the Centre against revocation of Article 35A of the Constitution, saying any tinkering with the state’s special status or identity would be akin to setting a powder keg on fire.
“If any hand tries to touch Article 35-A, not only that hand, but that whole body will burn to ashes,” Mufti had while said addressing her party’s foundation day here on Sunday.
Former MLA and Peoples United Front (PUF) leader Sheikh Abdul Rasheed said mainstream politics would perish in Kashmir if the Centre tinkers with Article 35A.
BJP vice-president and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had accused Abdullah and Mufti on Saturday of spreading rumours about the deployment of additional troops to the valley, saying the deployment was a normal process and a “routine” exercise.
Zonal SPs asked to provide list of mosques in Srinagar | Greater Kashmir
Srinagar , July 29, 2019, 2:34 PM
"Please provide details of mosques and their managements falling without your respective jurisdictions as per enclosed proforma to this office immediately for onward submission to higher authorities"
A fresh order directing the five zonal superintendents of police to provide the list of mosques in the city and its management committees has added to the speculation about some major decision in the offing regarding Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
“Please provide details of mosques and their managements falling without your respective jurisdictions as per enclosed proforma to this office immediately for onward submission to higher authorities,” according an order issued by the Srinagar senior superintendent of police to the zonal SPs on Sunday night.
The order, which is being widely circulated on social media, has added to the speculation that the Centre might have plans to do away with Article 35A, which gives exclusive rights to the state’s residents in government jobs and land.
These speculations have dominated the discourse in Kashmir over the past few days after the Centre decided to rush an additional 100 companies of central armed paramilitary forces to the valley. The mainstream political parties have vowed to resist any such move to tinker with the special status.
On Saturday, a letter by a Railway Protection Force (RPF) official in Budgam asking employees to stock ration for at least four months and take other steps due to “forecast of deteriorating situation” in the Kashmir Valley “for a long period” created a flutter.
“As per inputs received from different security agencies and SSP/GRP/SINA (senior superintendent of police, Government Railway Police, Srinagar) regarding forecast of deteriorating situation in Kashmir valley and issue of law and order for a long period, a precautionary security meeting was held on July 27,” the letter by Sudesh Nugyal, assistant security commissioner, RPF, Budgam, reads.
The official asked the employees to take various precautionary measures like storing drinking water for seven days and fill vehicles fully to deal with the issue of law and order for a long period as there is a “forecast of deteriorating situation” in the valley.
The railways, however, clarified that the communication had no basis and the official had no authority to issue it.
National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah had questioned the motive behind such a missive.
“It’s easy to blame valley residents for fear-mongering but what are we to make of such official orders which forecast a deterioration in the law & order environment and even predict disturbances lasting for an extended period of time? Why is the Govt silent?” Abdullah asked.
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti also warned the Centre against revocation of Article 35A of the Constitution, saying any tinkering with the state’s special status or identity would be akin to setting a powder keg on fire.
“If any hand tries to touch Article 35-A, not only that hand, but that whole body will burn to ashes,” Mufti had while said addressing her party’s foundation day here on Sunday.
Former MLA and Peoples United Front (PUF) leader Sheikh Abdul Rasheed said mainstream politics would perish in Kashmir if the Centre tinkers with Article 35A.
BJP vice-president and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had accused Abdullah and Mufti on Saturday of spreading rumours about the deployment of additional troops to the valley, saying the deployment was a normal process and a “routine” exercise.
Zonal SPs asked to provide list of mosques in Srinagar | Greater Kashmir
From National Herald :
Centre all set to abrogate Article 35A in J&K, will move 10k additional paramilitary troops there: Sources
The entire operation to deal with the law and order fallout in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 35A has even been code-named, they said
by IANS
Published: 27 Jul 2019, 3:04 PM
Image courtesy: social media
The countdown for the removal of the controversial Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir has started, according to top sources in the government.
Two days after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval returned from a visit to the Valley, the Centre has decided to move 10,000 additional paramilitary troops there to address the likely fallout of the move on the ground, sources said.
During his three-day tour, Doval had held detailed discussions with senior officers of the state administration, police, paramilitary forces, army, state and Central intelligence agencies, they said.
"An elaborate contingency plan has been worked out to take care of even the minutest details. How the law and order situation would behave, the response of the overground and underground separatist cadres and also the response of the mainstream political leadership.
"It is clear that nothing is being left to chance. The orders seem to be clear, violence and attempts to disrupt peace by anti-national elements, in the garb of a public outcry to oppose the abrogation of Article 35A, has to be contained and controlled so that the common man is put to least inconvenience.
"The entire operation to deal with the law and order fallout in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 35A has even been code-named," these sources said.
The arrival of additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) has started in the Valley over the past three days.
Special flights carrying CAPFs have landed at the Srinagar airport during the last three days, while convoys carrying additional companies of these forces are reaching the Valley through the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
This is reportedly intended to augment an already overwhelming component of these forces in Kashmir. Over 450 companies of CAPFs (40,000 troops) are already deployed for the security of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and other security related duties in the Valley at present.
"This number does not include the strength of the counter insurgency Rashtriya Rifles, which carries out anti-militancy operations in the hinterland, and also provides peripheral assistance to the state police and the CAPF in difficult situations.
While the Union Home Ministry has issued an order saying that the troops will be for strengthening the "counter insurgent grid" and for maintaining law and order in the valley, J&K Police said the troops will be deployed in north Kashmir where the security situation is still seen as a challenge.
"All sensitive installations, including the airport, radio station, Doordarshan Kendra, essential services like hydro-power generation projects, power grid stations, water supplies, hospitals, paramilitary camps and the state police offices down to the level of police stations and police posts are getting additional paramilitary deployments for extraordinary security cover.
"The Army would stand by for any assistance the civil administration might require to maintain law and order," sources said.
Sources also told IANS that the major role in security and law and order maintenance would continue to be shouldered by the state police.
"The NSA has made it clear in his interactions with the state police top brass that the maintenance of law and order is the duty of the state police and all needed support and assistance is being made available to the local police so that they deal with the obtaining situation firmly and effectively," top sources said.
Informed sources say lists of elements who might try to stoke public outcry have already been prepared. "These anti-national and anti-social elements would be taken into preventive custody so that they are prevented from fomenting trouble," sources said.
Interestingly, the lists of anti-national and anti-social elements prepared by the state and Central intelligence agencies are not restricted to the separatist cadres.
"Some local politicians who see the ground slipping from under their feet are also on the radar so that they are not able to take political mileage out of the likely situation," sources said.
Addressing a National Conference workers meeting in Srinagar city on Thursday, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah had asked the Centre to wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court where a bunch of petitions challenging Article 35A and Article 370 are pending.
"Why should you hurry? We will respect the decision of the Supreme Court as we have always done," Abdullah said.
He also asked the government to clear the air on 'rumours' that there would be another long spell of trouble in Kashmir after August 15.
Abdullah said bureaucrats were spreading rumours asking people to store rations, medicines, fuel for automobiles etc because a long haul of uncertainty was in the offing.
All regional parties of the state, including the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (J&KPM) and others are opposed to any tinkering with Articles 35A and 370 that give special status to J&K.
Among the centrist mainstream parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party stands for abrogation of these articles arguing they are roadblocks not only in the integration of the state with the rest of the country, but also in the development of J&K.
Interestingly, the Congress party wants these articles to be protected. Congress leaders maintain that senior leaders of the party, including late Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru had painstakingly worked out J&K's relationship with India through promises made in these articles.
Centre all set to abrogate Article 35A in J&K, will move 10k additional paramilitary troops there: Sources
Centre all set to abrogate Article 35A in J&K, will move 10k additional paramilitary troops there: Sources
The entire operation to deal with the law and order fallout in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 35A has even been code-named, they said
by IANS
Published: 27 Jul 2019, 3:04 PM
The countdown for the removal of the controversial Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir has started, according to top sources in the government.
Two days after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval returned from a visit to the Valley, the Centre has decided to move 10,000 additional paramilitary troops there to address the likely fallout of the move on the ground, sources said.
During his three-day tour, Doval had held detailed discussions with senior officers of the state administration, police, paramilitary forces, army, state and Central intelligence agencies, they said.
"An elaborate contingency plan has been worked out to take care of even the minutest details. How the law and order situation would behave, the response of the overground and underground separatist cadres and also the response of the mainstream political leadership.
"It is clear that nothing is being left to chance. The orders seem to be clear, violence and attempts to disrupt peace by anti-national elements, in the garb of a public outcry to oppose the abrogation of Article 35A, has to be contained and controlled so that the common man is put to least inconvenience.
"The entire operation to deal with the law and order fallout in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 35A has even been code-named," these sources said.
The arrival of additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) has started in the Valley over the past three days.
Special flights carrying CAPFs have landed at the Srinagar airport during the last three days, while convoys carrying additional companies of these forces are reaching the Valley through the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
This is reportedly intended to augment an already overwhelming component of these forces in Kashmir. Over 450 companies of CAPFs (40,000 troops) are already deployed for the security of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and other security related duties in the Valley at present.
"This number does not include the strength of the counter insurgency Rashtriya Rifles, which carries out anti-militancy operations in the hinterland, and also provides peripheral assistance to the state police and the CAPF in difficult situations.
While the Union Home Ministry has issued an order saying that the troops will be for strengthening the "counter insurgent grid" and for maintaining law and order in the valley, J&K Police said the troops will be deployed in north Kashmir where the security situation is still seen as a challenge.
"All sensitive installations, including the airport, radio station, Doordarshan Kendra, essential services like hydro-power generation projects, power grid stations, water supplies, hospitals, paramilitary camps and the state police offices down to the level of police stations and police posts are getting additional paramilitary deployments for extraordinary security cover.
"The Army would stand by for any assistance the civil administration might require to maintain law and order," sources said.
Sources also told IANS that the major role in security and law and order maintenance would continue to be shouldered by the state police.
"The NSA has made it clear in his interactions with the state police top brass that the maintenance of law and order is the duty of the state police and all needed support and assistance is being made available to the local police so that they deal with the obtaining situation firmly and effectively," top sources said.
Informed sources say lists of elements who might try to stoke public outcry have already been prepared. "These anti-national and anti-social elements would be taken into preventive custody so that they are prevented from fomenting trouble," sources said.
Interestingly, the lists of anti-national and anti-social elements prepared by the state and Central intelligence agencies are not restricted to the separatist cadres.
"Some local politicians who see the ground slipping from under their feet are also on the radar so that they are not able to take political mileage out of the likely situation," sources said.
Addressing a National Conference workers meeting in Srinagar city on Thursday, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah had asked the Centre to wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court where a bunch of petitions challenging Article 35A and Article 370 are pending.
"Why should you hurry? We will respect the decision of the Supreme Court as we have always done," Abdullah said.
He also asked the government to clear the air on 'rumours' that there would be another long spell of trouble in Kashmir after August 15.
Abdullah said bureaucrats were spreading rumours asking people to store rations, medicines, fuel for automobiles etc because a long haul of uncertainty was in the offing.
All regional parties of the state, including the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (J&KPM) and others are opposed to any tinkering with Articles 35A and 370 that give special status to J&K.
Among the centrist mainstream parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party stands for abrogation of these articles arguing they are roadblocks not only in the integration of the state with the rest of the country, but also in the development of J&K.
Interestingly, the Congress party wants these articles to be protected. Congress leaders maintain that senior leaders of the party, including late Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru had painstakingly worked out J&K's relationship with India through promises made in these articles.
Centre all set to abrogate Article 35A in J&K, will move 10k additional paramilitary troops there: Sources
A lot of reporting along similar lines :
Tension grips Kashmir over possible scrapping of Article 35 A
Centre might make 35A move by Aug 15
Tension grips Kashmir over possible scrapping of Article 35 A
Centre might make 35A move by Aug 15
Not exclusively Congress, I imagine. Old bureaucrats, advisors, Kashmiri politicians, Aman ki Asha types etc. I mean who do you think a Congressman like Capt. Amarinder Singh side with ? group 1 or 2
National Harold article indicates Congress is with the decision although it says against.
Group 2 will be those who think they ll lose their kingship in Kashmir if it is made into a proper regular state..
Officially : no.
Under the table : yes.
If something goes wrong : "I told you so"
Standard political dealing. Nothing wrong with it. Democracy is about giving people options, even when there isn't one.