Amid apprehensions of escalation in violence against the backdrop of the first death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on Saturday and its impact on the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security scenario in Jammu & Kashmir.
While the Centre has deployed more than 21,000 additional paramilitary personnel in the State in view of the situation there, the State Government has directed all internet service providers to block the social media sites from 10.00 pm on Thursday till further orders. Mobile internet services are also likely to be suspended. All educational institutions were also asked to close for 10 days starting Thursday.
Giving details of the measures taken to ensure an incident-free Amarnath Yatra and prevent spike in violence during the next few days as terrorists have given a call for observing Wani’s death anniversary, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told reporters here after the high-level meeting that 21,000 additional personnel of Central paramilitary were now deployed in the State.
Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir besides the Home Secretary and senior officers took part in the meeting.
“We are well prepared to handle any situation in Kashmir. We have sent 214 companies of central forces to control any situation which may arise on July 8 and during the Amarnath Yatra,” he told reporters here after the meeting. One company has more than 100 security personnel.
These forces are in addition to the State police forces and those deployed for anti-terrorism duties. Four districts of South Kashmir, including Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag are restive since the elimination of Wani in an encounter with security forces last year.
The Army has also deployed three additional battalions (one battalion has 1,000 troops) in these trouble-prone districts. The troops are now conducting anti-militancy operations in the hinterland to deny space and time to terrorists to move freely. Further, all the roads, including less travelled ones connecting these districts are now manned round-the-clock by Army patrols as part of area domination exercise, sources said here.
Explaining the rationale behind this measure, they also said Amarnath Yatra passes through South Kashmir and the Government has directed the security forces to ensure that the pilgrimage passes off without any incident. Security agencies are concerned that foreign terrorists may try to target the yatra as they do not have any involvement with the sentiments attached to the annual pilgrimage.
local terrorist organization like the Hizbul Mujahideen refrain from attacking the yatra as more than one lakh Kashmiris earn their livelihood from the month-long event. Moreover, targeting the yatra will earn a bad name for the local terrorists claiming to fight for a just cause.
Nearly 90,000 yatris have so far paid obeisance at the holy cave located at an altitude of 3,888-metre in south Kashmir. The Union Home Ministry is on a daily basis reviewing the situation with top brass of security and Intelligence agencies in this regard.
The 40-day yatra commenced on June 28 and will end on August 7. The Army has positioned two additional battalions on the two routes to the holy cave. These routes are from Baltaal and Sonamarg respectively and the troops are manning the hilltops overlooking the shrine to prevent terrorists from targeting it from higher ground.
The four South Kashmir districts saw large-scale violence like stone pelting and bandhs for nearly six months last year after Wani’s killing and the yatra was also badly affected by the unrest last year. More than 76 civilians and two police personnel were killed during that period of unrest. Also, over 80 young men from these areas had joined terrorist ranks after Wani’s death.
Not willing to take any chances after the United Jehad Council (UJC), an amalgam of terrorist organizations, announced a protest programme to mark Wani’s death anniversary, the State Government has also announced 10-day holidays for all educational institutions from July 6.
As a precautionary measure, the State police on Thursday directed internet service providers to block all social media sites or shut down their services in Kashmir from 10 pm on Thursday till further orders.
The order was issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir, Munir Ahmad Khan to various lease line internet service providers in the Valley.
“In view of the apprehensions of misuse of internet services by anti-national elements, which is likely to cause deterioration in the law and order situation, you are directed to block all social media sites,” the order read.
It also said if blocking of the social media sites was not possible, the service providers should shut down their services in Kashmir Valley from 10 pm till further orders. The authorities are also likely to suspend mobile internet services across the Valley, it was learnt.
Given the sensitive situation in restive South Kashmir, security is further strengthened and police and other security forces have intensified area domination to prevent assembly of people in Wani’s native village in Tral area.