The situation in Kashmir is more tense after India scrapped 'special' status — forces are on high alert fearing violence

• High alert prevails in the Kashmir valley as India scrapped special status of Kashmir by revoking Article 370 and Article 35A of constitution.
  
• The upper house of the Parliament has passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019.
  
• “You violated all rules and converted a state into a Union Territory overnight,” said Congress’ Adhir Ranjan in the Lok Sabha session.
  
• The government is considering deploying nearly 400 more security forces in the valley.
  

The government is moving quick and fast to maintain law order in Jammu & Kashmir, a day after it repealed Article 370 and Article 35A of constitution which had given it special status. As the state has been divided into two union territories, the central government gets a stronger hold on its governance.

And, it is making sure it does. A high alert is still underway in the sensitive Kashmir valley. Added to that, the security forces are preparing for possible cross-border terror, ET reported.


The government could also expand the 38,000 strong troops it had already deployed in the area, prior to the announcement. It is considering deploying nearly 400 more security forces in case of an incident in reaction to the government decision.

From house arrest to arrest
It has also taken precautions to control the massive protests against the change.

Two former chief ministers of the state — Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — were arrested late night on Monday. The government had placed them on house arrest a day before the announcement, as they had expected trouble. Both Abdullah and Mufti have been speaking against the government move calling it dangerous and catastrophic.

Top politicians like Imran Ansari and Sajjad Lone of People’s Conference have also been arrested, according to media reports.

‘Zero Violence’
The Jammu and Kashmir Police DGP Dilbag Singh however assured that there is "zero violence in Kashmir Valley”. “And, any report of violence is incorrect. South, north and central Kashmir is completely peaceful," he told India Today.

The government also directed all the state governments and police departments to implement law to ensure safety of Kashmiris. Haryana police too stepped up efforts to ensure the safety of its Kashmiri residents.

Congress’ Adhir Ranjan has been seeking clarification on the move quoting that the matter is “still pending in the United Nations.”

“I don't think you are thinking about PoK, you violated all rules and converted a state into a Union Territory overnight,” he added during the Lok Sabha session.


The changes

Yesterday, the upper house of the Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019. With this, the government has rewritten the history of India and the move has bifurcated the ‘state’ into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The move will also enable residents from other states of India to buy property in the land of Kashmir. It will also benefit the women in the region, which will not take away Indian citizenship from them, if they choose to get married in another state or country.

From now on, Jammu and Kashmir will not host a separate flag and the government has asked the panchayats in the state to host the tricolour flag this independence day.

See also:
Pakistan 'will exercise all options' against Delhi taking over J&K
Delhi Metro put on 'red alert' citing security threat after India abolished Kashmir's right to make its own laws
India’s opposition wants Narendra Modi to reveal his Kashmir plan in Parliament