Former chief minister and vice president of the National Conference Omar Abdullah has questioned the Jammu and Kashmir government’s silence over a meeting of the Railway Police Force (RPF) in Kashmir convened after the security agencies sent an input warning of a deteriorating situation in the Kashmir valley.
“It’s easy to blame valley residents for fear mongering but what are we to make of such official orders which forecast a deterioration in the law & order environment and even predict disturbances lasting for an extended period of time? Why is the Govt silent?” Abdullah tweeted.
In a later tweet, Abdullah shared the image of an apparent clarification from the RPF.
After the meeting on Saturday, the RPF directed its staff to take precautionary security measures, which include purchase and storage of at least four-months dry rations and water to "meet any crisis situation in case of an emergency situation in Kashmir’’.
The Railways, however, said in a statement that the directions are "without any basis" and "not authorised".
"The Senior Divisional Security Commissioner had proceeded on one-year study leave on July 26, 2019. The next in line had issued this letter based on his own perception, which has no basis and is not authorised to issue any such letter," the statement said.
"It is also clarified the letter does not have any approval from the authorising authority. IG (NR) RPF is being sent to Kashmir to assess the situation and take corrective action," the official statement read.
Tension has gripped Kashmir after the Narendra Modi government decided to send an additional 10,000 Central paramilitary personnel after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited the valley last week.
Though the government has tried to downplay the airlifting of additional 100 companies of paramilitary personnel to the valley as a routine security exercise, directions to the police and security forces to stock food supplies and water for four months has spurred fears in Kashmir that the BJP-led Central government was planning to abrogate Articles 35A and 370 that grant special status to Kashmir.
The articles have been challenged in the Supreme Court by a rightwing-backed NGO and six other petitioners including West Pakistani refugees on the contention that the provisions violate their fundamental rights of settling in Kashmir, acquiring property and seeking government jobs.
The removal of Articles 35A and 370, that bar outsiders from settling in the state, are seen by the people in Jammu and Kashmir as an attempt aimed at changing the demography of the Muslim majority state to tackle separatism and militancy.
The separatists and mainstream groups have warned that any attempt to abolish the two articles would be resisted. A string of orders to the security forces to stock foods supplies, water and riot gear and anti-riot weapons has created panic across Kashmir and Muslim-dominated districts of Jammu—Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Baderwah and Kishtwar.