Pulwama Aftermath: Centre orders deployment of 100 paramilitary forces in Kashmir

New Delhi: Taking action after the recent Pulwama suicide attack which has claimed lives of 40 CRPF jawans, the Union government on Friday ordered the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to “urgently” deploy 100 companies in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We have to urgently deploy additional CAPFs in Jammu and Kashmir. It is requested to provide 100 coys of CAPFs (CRPF-45, BSF-35, SSB-10 & ITBP-10) to Govt. of J&K with immediate effect and till further orders. IG(Ops), CRPF is requested to ensure immediate movement of Forces in coordination with IG (Ops) of all Forces,” the ministry of home affairs said in a letter,TOI reports.

However, the government has not given any specific reasons for the deployment and has also carried out mass arrest drive deatining dozens of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and also JKLF chief Yasin Malik many others from various including Anantnag, Pahalgham, Dialgam, Tral all in south Kashmir Yesterday.

The detainees include Ameer Jama’at Dr Abdul Hamid Fayaz, Advocate Zahid Ali (spokesperson), Ghulam Qadir Lone (former secretary general), Abdur Rouf (Ameer Zila Islamabad), Mudasir Ahmad (Ameer Tehsil Pahalgam), Abdul Salam (Dialgam), Bakhtawar Ahmad (Dialgam), Mohammad Hayat (Tral), Bilal Ahmad (Chadoora), Ghulam Mohammad Dar (Chak Sangran) and others.

According to Police sources, these arrested persons had inputs of mass protests in view of the Supreme Court hearing on Article 35A tomorrow.

The Jamaat issued a statement condemning the detentions and said “…The move is a well-designed conspiracy to pave way for further uncertainty in the region.”

Reacting to the mass arrest drive by the Centre, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti questioned the legality of the crackdown, saying the “arbitrary” move will only “precipitate matters” in the state.

“In the past 24 hours, Hurriyat leaders and workers of Jamaat organisation have been arrested. Fail to understand such an arbitrary move which will only precipitate matters in J&K,” Mehbooba tweeted.

“Under what legal grounds are their arrests justified? You can imprison a person but not his ideas,” she said.

Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq too condemned Malik’s detention and the crackdown on the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership, saying “force and intimidation” will only “worsen” the situation.

“Strongly condemn the nocturnal crackdown on Jamat-e-Islami leadership and cadres and the arrest of Yasin Malik. Such illegal and coercive measures against Kashmiris are futile and will not change realities on ground. Force and intimidation will only worsen the situation,” Mirwaiz posted on Twitter.