NEW DELHI: The Centre is “infusing” troops in Jammu and Kashmir with the aim was to provide security cover for a move to unfurl the Tricolour in every panchayat in the Valley in this Independence Day, The Indian Express reported.
“The government is infusing troops as many panchayat heads want to hoist the national flag this Independence Day. This deployment is being done to ensure no disruption to the process and avoid any untoward incident,” the newspaper quoting sources said.
Sources said the ruling BJP had already given instructions to its units in every panchayat of the state to unfurl the national flag on Independence Day .
“The panchayat chiefs will be hoisting the national tricolour at their homes on Independence Day. The panchayat elections were a success as 75 % polling took place. Assembly elections witness only 10-15% polling. PDP and NC, which have been winning these state polls, were in a way being boycotted by the people,” a senior BJP leader was quoted as saying to the Economic Times.
The arrival of additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) has started in the Valley over the past three days.
Special flights carrying CAPFs have landed at the Srinagar airport during the last three days, while convoys carrying additional companies of these forces are reaching the Valley through the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
This is reportedly intended to augment an already overwhelming component of these forces in Kashmir. Over 450 companies of CAPFs (40,000 troops) are already deployed for the security of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and other security related duties in the Valley at present.