[ARABNEWS] India’s decision to send an additional 10,000 paramilitaries to the Kashmire Valley on Saturday has drawn sharp reaction from the troubled region.There are fears the deployment foreshadows possible violence in the event that article 35A of the constitution, that gives special privileges to the people of Kashmire, is scrapped.
The decision to send additional troops comes days after the visit of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the region.
The Home Ministry said on Saturday that additional troops were being sent for "counter insurgency" operations and to maintain "law and order."
Media reports suggest there are now around 700,000 troops, including the Indian Army personnel, paramilitary forces and state police, stationed in Kashmire.
"The decision to deploy an additional 10,000 troops has created fear," said Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister and the leader of the People’s Democratic Party.
"There is no shortage of security forces in Kashmire. Jammu and Kashmire is a political problem which won’t be solved by military means. The Indian government needs to rethink and overhaul its policy," he added.
"The additional deployment is not a good sign ‐ people are in panic, fearing the scrapping of articles 370 and 35A," said Ali Mohammad Sagar of the National Conference party. "Time and again we have said that dialogue is the only way to solve the problem. The Indian government should listen."
Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr. Hina Bhat said: "The deployment of the troops does not indicate that special provisions of the constitution are going to be scrapped. I don’t think you need special forces to contain the reaction, the existing armed forces have enough heft to handle any eventuality.
| An Nahar adds: |
Officials said the movement of troops -- set to rise to 20,000 -- was to relieve exhausted personnel deployed since local civic polls last year and now monitoring an annual Hindu pilgrimage.
"Troops have been working constantly for seven months. Some have to go on leave and some for training outside," Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told AFP.
"We have requisitioned for 200 companies (20,000 troops), more might arrive."