Security has been beefed up in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the second anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.
Article 370 of the Constitution was revoked by the BJP government at the Centre on August 5, 2019, splitting Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories (UT).
In Srinagar, additional security personnel have been deployed at Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Regal Chowk, TRC Chowk, Polo View and other places.
Random checking of vehicles and frisking of pedestrians was being done by the security forces. Police and CRPF undertook area domination exercises in Srinagar and other districts, and erected barricades on roads at many places leading in and out of Srinagar.
The security alert is also aimed at ensuring that official events to mark the second anniversary pass off peacefully. Security has also been intensified on the highway passing through Srinagar to north and south Kashmir.
On August 3, militants had fired at police at Khanyar in Srinagar in which a policeman and a civilian were injured.
Meanwhile, former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti dubbed August 5 as 'Black Day'. She said the PDP will stage a protest at the party office in Srinagar on Thursday. “August 5 will perpetually be remembered as a dark day in the history of J&K. It is seen as a day of disempowerment, a reminder of the humiliation that the people of J&K were subjected to: J&K Peoples Conference,’’ she tweeted.
In a statement, Mufti said August 5 has become a reminder of the subversion of the democratic and constitutional system of the country and how the trust of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and everyone in the country, who believes in democracy, has been betrayed.
“It is a day when the country was lied to and the highest institutions were misused,’’ the statement said. “The day saw solemn promises being broken and the trust of millions of people being betrayed. On this day, the spirit of constitutionalism and democratic ethos were undermined as the people of J&K were robbed of their identity and rights.”
