SRINAGAR: Security has been intensified across Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, with a multi-layered security arrangement put in place amid planned political protests and heightened vigilance across the Union Territory, officials said.
Police, the Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have stepped up surveillance, vehicle checking, frisking and area domination patrols from the International Border and Line of Control to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and major towns.
Additional security has been deployed at highways, district headquarters, markets, transit camps, public places and other sensitive installations. More checkpoints have also been established along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), where security personnel are conducting intensified vehicle searches while facilitating the movement of traffic.
The BSF and Army have enhanced operational alertness along the International Border and Line of Control, while police and paramilitary personnel have increased patrolling in urban and rural areas.
Quick Response Teams (QRTs), bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage teams have also been deployed at vulnerable locations as part of the enhanced security arrangements, officials said.
The heightened security comes amid separate demonstrations announced by political parties in Jammu to mark the August 5, 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 and reorganise the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The National Conference will hold a protest outside its party headquarters in Jammu, while the Congress has announced a demonstration at Shaheedi Chowk, with demands including restoration of statehood and constitutional safeguards for land, jobs and natural resources. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also announced a protest outside its Gandhi Nagar headquarters.
National Conference provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta described August 5 as one of the “darkest days” in the constitutional and democratic history of Jammu and Kashmir and alleged that the 2019 decisions were taken without the consent of the people.
Gupta said the continued delay in restoring statehood had weakened democratic institutions and deprived Jammu and Kashmir of the constitutional authority available to full-fledged states. He urged the Union Government to fulfil its commitment to restore statehood.
The Congress said its protest would centre on restoration of statehood and constitutional safeguards for land, jobs and natural resources, while the PDP said its demonstration would seek restoration of Article 370.
Officials said security forces would remain on high alert across the Union Territory to ensure peaceful observance of the anniversary and maintain law and order.
On August 5, 2019, the Government of India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status by abrogating Article 370 and Article 35A. The erstwhile state was subsequently reorganised into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
