New Delhi: Security forces have been put on full alert and the Army is on standby to thwart any possibility of violence in wake of the Narendra Modi government’s move proposing revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.
Sources in the defence establishment told ThePrint that Army has been put on high alert along the Line of Control too, and added that incidents of stone pelting and violence could take place.
“All measures have been put in place. The focus area is Kashmir. Adequate number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are in the state. Some more are being brought in. Also, the Army has been put on standby, but there is full confidence that the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the CAPFs will handle the situation perfectly,” said a source.
The sources said the suspension of internet and the house arrest of political leaders are to ensure that the violence, if any, does not spread.
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Forces welcome Modi govt’s move
The Modi government’s decision has been welcomed by security agencies and the armed forces, who had been pushing for drastic measures in the state. Sources said the scrapping of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories will give a huge impetus to the overall security scenario in the state, after the initial round of violence that is expected.
They pointed out that with Jammu and Kashmir now becoming a UT with an assembly, like Delhi, the law and order machinery will come under direct control of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
“There would be no interference of the local political parties in transfer and postings, besides deciding the security policy. It is much-needed when a region is hit by security concerns,” a source said.
The sources added that the move was something that had been under discussion for long, but no government was willing to bite the bullet. “With today’s move, India is one, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” said another source.
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