70 ultras, hardcore pro-Pak separatists airlifted out of J&K
First test of the impact of revocation of Article 370 will be witnessed on Friday as curfew is expected to be relaxed between 11 am and 5 pm for the Friday prayers in Jammu & Kashmir. Curfew was relaxed on Thursday as well and security situation remained largely peaceful in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, sources in the security forces on the ground said.
Amid “unprecedented” clampdown, which continued for the fourth consecutive day in different parts of Kashmir Valley, around 70 terrorists and hardcore pro-Pakistan separatists were airlifted in a special plane, provided by the Indian Air Force, to Agra.
The decision to shift these “trouble makers” was taken during high-level review meetings chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during his stay in the Valley.
The Prisons department of the J&K Police had submitted a fresh report with complete details of past record of these terrorists and hardcore separatists lodged in different jails of Kashmir Valley.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad was sent back from Srinagar Airport hours after he landed there to take stock of the ground situation.
On his arrival in Srinagar at 11.30 am, Azad was prevented from stepping out of the airport premises. Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, along with police officers informed him about the decision to detain him at the airport. Azad was told to return to New Delhi via the same flight but he insisted on attending meeting convened at the party office in Srinagar. At 4.30 pm Azad, accompanied by JKPCC chief GA Mir, returned to Delhi.
On Thursday, Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik took stock of law and order situation and provision of basic services to people.
In a meeting held in Srinagar, Malik reviewed arrangements for enabling people to perform Friday prayers and for celebration of Eid-ul-Azha in the coming week, a spokesman said.
The Governor said mandis will be set up at different locations in the Kashmir Valley so that people can buy animals on the occasion of Eid.
Advisors to the Governor K Vijay Kumar and K Skandan, and Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam were present in the meeting.
The Governor also issued directions to officials to facilitate return of students staying outside the Union Territory to their homes for Eid celebrations.
The Governor has also sanctioned `1 lakh each to designated liaison officers for organising Eid festivities for J&K students who are studying in other States and are unable to come to their homes on the occasion, Raj Bhawan spokesman said.
The Governor also issued directions for setting up telephone lines in Deputy Commissioners’ offices for such students to talk to their families back home.
Meanwhile, Army’s northern command chief, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, visited forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Thursday and reviewed operational preparedness.
Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, accompanied by White Knight Corps commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, visited the forward posts in Bhimber Gali Sector to review the operational preparedness and the prevalent security situation in view of Pakistan’s reactions to the revocation of the Article 370.
The main challenge for the forces on Friday would be the management of situation on Eid on Tuesday and August 14 (Pak Independence Day) and August 15, both days planned by Pakistan groups to be observed as Black Days. Curfew is expected to be relaxed on Eid but airing any radical sermons from the mosques will be monitored in order to avoid any possible fallout on the security situation, officials said.
They said during the relaxation in curfew on Thursday shops remained opened and traffic movement was normal on the roads across Jammu and Kashmir. People also visited mosques to offer prayers. Barring some pockets in Pulwama and Anantnag besides a few tehsils in Shopian the Valley remained peaceful.
Meanwhile, Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on developments in Jammu & Kashmir and on Indo-Pak border. Overall the situation is under control with the Armed forces in a state of high alert and closely monitoring the situation, he apprised Singh.
NSA Ajit Doval has instructed the security forces in Jammu & Kashmir to ensure that common people do not face any kind of harassment during the restrictions imposed there after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to J&K.
Before returning to the national Capital on Wednesday, Doval had underscored to the security forces and administration officials that people are able to function in a hassle free manner.
Doval had visited Shopian in south Kashmir on Wednesday and interacted with the people. He had also interacted with police and paramilitary forces on the ground to keep their morale high.
