J&K on high alert ahead of Article 370 anniversary; protests planned

Ahead of the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, Jammu and Kashmir has been placed on high alert, with intensified security measures including additional checkpoints, vehicle checks, frisking, and enhanced paramilitary deployments across the Union Territory.

The security forces have been conducting anti-terror operations across different parts of the Kashmir valley to neutralise the perpetrators behind the targeted killings of migrant workers and a policeman in Kulgam and Anantnag districts.

In the Jammu region, the security forces have also mounted extra vigil along the International border areas of Kathua, Samba and Akhnoor to foil any infiltration attempts following regular inputs about the suspected movement of terrorists in the region.

Security forces on Tuesday launched a massive search operation after receiving inputs about the suspected movement of terrorists at two locations in the remote Surankote area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

Jawans of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, assisted by troops of the Rashtriya Rifles, launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Dhara Sangla, Gujjar Naar and Kherowali Dhok areas, along with adjoining forested villages.

The searches were carried out following reports suggesting the movement of two separate groups of suspected terrorists in the densely forested region.

Meanwhile, the civil and police administration is also geared up to tackle political workers from different political parties, as they are expected to participate in street demonstrations pressing for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday directed all party office-bearers to ensure their participation in district-level protests to be held by the party across Jammu and Kashmir to mark the seventh anniversary of the Abrogation of Article 370.

The protests will be held on August 5 in support of the restoration of Article 370 and release of political prisoners, the party said.

The decision was taken at a PDP meeting chaired by Mehbooba on Tuesday.

“As decided by the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti during today’s meeting with senior party leaders, MLAs, district presidents of parent, women and youth wings.... all party functionaries are hereby directed to ensure active participation in the district level protests across Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 in support of restoration of Article 370,” the party said in a release.

The Congress party has also decided to observe August 5 as ‘Black Day’ and organise a protest demonstration in Jammu seeking restoration of Statehood along with constitutional guarantees for land, jobs and natural resources.

The ruling party, National Conference (NC), has also maintained that the party would continue its campaign for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood until the Centre fulfils its commitment.

The National Conference’s recent protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi marked the beginning of a sustained democratic campaign to press the Union Government for the restoration of Statehood.

“Our Jantar Mantar protest was meant to remind the Centre that the promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir has still not been fulfilled,” Nasir Aslam Wani said.

He recalled that following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the Centre had outlined a roadmap comprising the delimitation of Assembly constituencies, conduct of Assembly elections and restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood.” Two of those commitments — delimitation and Assembly elections — have been completed. The only remaining promise is the restoration of Statehood, and that should now be honoured,” he said.