LG Manoj Sinha orders heightened alert across J&K
Even as the overall law and order situation remained peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday directed police and civil administration officials to remain on heightened alert and take all necessary steps to maintain peace and tranquillity.
The Lieutenant Governor also held closed-door deliberations on the prevailing security scenario with Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, GoC-in-C, Northern Command, Nalin Prabhat, DGP, J&K, Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, GoC 15 Corps &Maj Gen Balbir Singh, MGGS, Northern Command, at Lok Bhavan, Srinagar.
The meeting was held in the wake of widespread protests in Kashmir and parts of the Jammu region against the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the joint strike by the US and Israel.
“Chaired a meeting of senior police & civil administration officials at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, to review the law-and-order situation.
Directed the officers to remain on heightened alert and take all necessary measures to ensure public peace and tranquillity,” Sinha said in a post on X. He appealed to the people and community leaders to uphold harmony and ensure that a calm atmosphere prevails. Meanwhile, a case was registered against some media outlets and individuals on Tuesday for allegedly circulating misleading information with the intention to incite unrest in connection with the protests against the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Srinagar police have taken serious cognisance of the deliberate circulation of false, fabricated and misleading information by certain news channels, media outlets, and individuals across electronic and social media platforms, a police spokesman said.
However, details of the media outlets and individuals were not immediately known.
The spokesman said these elements are “systematically attempting” to spread distorted narratives and unverified content with the clear intent to incite unrest, disturb public order, and create disharmony in society.
“Such malicious misinformation campaigns pose a grave threat to peace, security, and the integrity of the nation,” the spokesman said.
Cabinet Minister SakinaItoo on Tuesday announced that all schools and colleges across the Kashmir Division will remain closed till March 7, 2026.
In Jammu, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and called on the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise restraint, not let their emotions control them and express their anger and grief through lawful and peaceful means.
“The people of Iran must be the ones to decide their own leadership, without external interference. I condemn the killing of Khamenei and his family. What law gave America and Israel the right to do this? I also urge the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to let the situation worsen,” Abdullah told reporters.
Referring to the recent violence that has gripped the Valley in the wake of Khamenei’s death, Abdullah said that if there was any excessive use of force or misuse of power by the police or central paramilitary forces that resulted in injuries, it would be understandable for the people to feel intense emotions.
“I request the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to allow the situation to deteriorate. Some people are trying to spoil the atmosphere, and reports of incidents are coming in from certain places.
I do not want any misuse of force by the police or the central paramilitary forces here, resulting in people getting injured or, God forbid, anyone losing their life. That would be deeply unfortunate,” the chief minister said.
He further noted that reports of stone-pelting had emerged from certain places since Monday, and in one instance, there was an attempt to assault a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). “Because of such incidents, the Government is compelled to take stricter measures. Our effort will be to ensure that, as soon as possible, people are given the freedom to carry out their activities properly and peacefully,” he said.
