Within a week of deploying over 10,000 troops in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the central government has now moved 25,000 additional troops in the sensitive state. As per reports that surfaced last night, the government of India has mobilised over 25,000 additional security personnel to be deployed there.
As per reports, most of these troops are from the CRPF and most of them are being deployed around in the Kashmir valley. Approximately 280 companies of CRPF were reportedly ordered to be moved to Jammu and Kashmir late last evening. No official reason was given for this deployment.
In addition to this, all major entry and exit points to the Kashmir Valley has been sealed and have been taken under control of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF).
Earlier, the centre had ordered the deployment of 10,000 additional troops in the valley, stating that they are being deployed to strengthen the counter-insurgency operations there.
Locals in the area are reported to be stockpiling rations and essentials in anticipation of law and order situations in the sensitive region.
In addition to this, the central government has reportedly pressed for heavy-lift planes like the C-17s for rapid mobilisation of troops. The army and the air force have reportedly been put on high alert.
Srinagar: In view of the ongoing situation in Kashmir valley, Government has put the Air Force and the Army on high operational alert. https://t.co/pt36FNkC3g
— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2019
However, the MHA has refused to divulge any information over the increased deployment of troops. ANI has quoted MHA sources to have stated that the need for paramilitary troops to be rotated for rest and recuperation, induction and de-induction of central forces is a continuous and dynamic process. It has added that the 100 companies of paramilitary forces that were ordered to be deployed are still in the process of reaching their destinations and this has led to speculations in the media.
MHA has also added that the particulars of deployment and forces rotation cannot be discussed over the public domain for security reasons.
The deployment of additional troops in Kashmir has given rise to a lot of speculations of the central government’s next move. Media and many politicians have been hinting that a possible abrogation of the Article 35A and Article 370 might be the reason. Though the BJP and the central government have made it clear several times that the removal of the articles is a part of their agenda, the government has not clarified a time frame for it.
In the meanwhile, the government has been cracking down hard on separatist leaders and networks of funding that have long fuelled the unrest in the valley.
The Amarnath Yatra that was in progress since last month has also been put on hold since Sunday due to bad weather and mudslide on the Ramban-Banihal stretch. Government has stated that the yatra will remain suspended till August 4 due to IMD’s forecast of unfavourable weather.
