National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir on July 12 and 13 did not attract much media attention until the Union home ministry announced the deployment of an additional 100 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), numbering 10,000 personnel, to the state. The July 27 announcement has raised the CAPF strength in Kashmir to 50,000. The home ministry said the move was aimed at strengthening the counterinsurgency grid and maintaining law and order.
As the deployment was announced after Doval’s visit, it sparked concerns about the abrogation of Article 35A of the Constitution, which protects the unique nature of Jammu and Kashmir by barring outsiders from settling in the state. Additional director-general of police Munir Khan later clarified that the newly-announced 100 companies of CAPF were not an addition, but a replacement for an equal number of forces who were in Kashmir since the local body elections last year. “If someone wants to cause tension deliberately, what can be done,’’ said Khan, who was recently granted a one-year extension.
A string of security communications which went viral on social media added to the tension. A railway police force (RPF) communication, for instance, warned of deteriorating situation in Kashmir, and advised the purchase of dry ration for four months, storing drinking water and keeping money for emergency purposes. It warned against negotiations with mobs and spoke about barring them from going near railway installations. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference asked the state government for an explanation regarding the RPF advisory. “It is easy to blame valley residents for fear-mongering, but what are we to make of such official orders which forecast deterioration in the law and order environment and even predict disturbances lasting for an extended period?” tweeted Omar.
The RPF in a statement said the directive was unauthorised and was without any basis. “The senior divisional security commissioner had proceeded on a one-year study leave on July 26. The next in line had issued this letter based on his perception, which has no basis.... IG (NR) RPF is being sent to Kashmir to assess the situation and take corrective action,” said the statement.
Fresh orders by the Jammu and Kashmir administration asking five zonal superintendents of police to provide a list of mosques and their management committees and a directive to collect information about passenger capacity of taxis and fuel capacity of petrol pumps have reinforced the suspicion that something ominous is about to happen. A kerosene dealer in Srinagar told THE WEEK that government officials and police sought details from him about his storage capacity. “The police said they would need kerosene in case the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed,’’ said the dealer. “I was surprised and called my partner and he gave them all the details.’’ Senior superintendent of police (Srinagar) Haseeb Mughal said directions seeking information about the mosques and their committees were a routine exercise. “It is done from time to time to update the beat book of the police, which contains details about everything in the jurisdiction of a police station,’’ he said. “We have details of gurdwaras, masjids and other religious institutions. It is part of normal policing.” He said it was viewed otherwise because of the prevailing situation in Kashmir.
The clarification, however, failed to reassure people. There were discussions on social media about stocking food items. Some sought suggestions from journalists. As uncertainty looms large, Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti asked party workers to get ready to fight for the protection of Article 35A.“ If any hand tries to touch Article 35A, not just that hand, but the whole body will burn,” she said. “Elections come and go, power comes and goes. The Mufti was not after the chair and I am his daughter. The real test is to save the special position of Jammu and Kashmir and we will fight to death any such attempt.’’ Mehbooba requested National Conference president Farooq Abdullah to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. The NC has agreed and Farooq is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear the air on Article 35A. “ We have requested for an audience with the prime minister, but I do not know whether he would give us time,’’ said Farooq.
As tensions grew, the government has broken its silence on the deployment of additional troops. K. Vijay Kumar, the governor’s adviser on security affairs, said the deployment was a deliberate and calculated response to the need of the security grid because of the focus on the Amarnath Yatra. Addressing a news conference in Srinagar on July 29, he dismissed rumours circulating on social media. “For us to react to everything will give strength to these people (rumour mongers),” he said. Governor Satya Pal Malik said orders shared on social media were not valid. “If a small incident happens in Lal Chowk, I get news at Raj Bhawan that a blast has occurred. Such is the rumour mongering here,’’ said Malik.
In its second term, the Modi government has intensified its focus on Kashmir. Before Doval, Home Minister Amit Shah had visited Kashmir and held meetings with security officers. He also met the family of the slain police officer Arshad Khan, who died from the injuries suffered in a militant attack at Anantnag. It was the first instance in 30 years when the Union home minister visited the family of a martyred police officer in Kashmir. Shah also handed over to his wife the letter of appointment for a government job. Samant Goel, the new chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, too, had paid a visit to the state.
The National Investigation Agency has intensified operations against separatists and businessman involved in trade across the Line of Control to raise funds for terrorists. The agency plans to question editors of Srinagar-based newspapers and mainstream politicians. The Centre has also brought in former police officer Farooq Khan, who founded the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s special task force for anti-militancy operations, as an adviser to the governor.
The new measures initiated by the government point towards something major as similar steps in February had culminated in the Balakot airstrikes. The BJP and the RSS believe that doing away with the special status of the state is the best way to address separatism. Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, which guarantee the special status, have already been challenged in the Supreme Court by seven petitioners, arguing that the provisions violated their right to settle in Kashmir, acquire property there and seek government jobs. Separatists as well as mainstream political parties based in the state see the challenge to the special status as an attempt aimed at changing Kashmir’s demography. They have warned that such attempts will be resisted at any cost.
The BJP has convened a meeting of its Jammu and Kashmir core group on July 30 in Delhi. The party’s state unit president Ravinder Raina and former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta will attend the meeting, which is convened by BJP working president J.P. Nadda. Modi and Shah might attend the meeting. Ashok Koul, spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP, said the meeting would discuss issues such as assembly elections and delimitation. “Article 35A is not part of the agenda for the meeting,” said Koul.
