Massive deployment of troops is taking place in Kashmir amidst several speculations. TOI file photo.

NEW DELHI: A massive troop deployment is taking place in the Kashmir valley. It has led to concerns among the local people and politicians regarding the purpose of the exercise.

The Centre on July 25 ordered rushing of about 10,000 central armed police forces (CAPFs) in Kashmir.

One CAPF battalion has about 1,000 personnel.

These troops were addition to about 65 regular battalions of the CRPF in the valley and over 20 other battalions of other forces deployed to conduct the Amarnath yatra that will end on August 15.

On Thursday, additional 280 companies of CAPFs (about 28000 soldiers) were ordered to move to the Kashmir valley.

Since the news broke out, several speculations are being made regarding the purpose behind the massive troop deployment.

Abrogation of Articles 35A and 370

The first reaction which came to everyone’s mind was abrogation of Articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution which accord special status to Jammu and Kashmir . The matter, which is sub judice, was included in the BJP’s manifesto for the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

There is a related speculation that Jammu and Kashmir may be bifurcated with Jammu being made a separate state while the Kashmir valley and Ladakh getting accorded the status of Union territories.

Prominent leaders of Jammu and Kashmir have expressed concern over the troop deployment.

PDP chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the development has created a sense of panic among the people.

In a tweet she said, “Centre's decision to deploy additional 10,000 troops in the valley has created fear psychosis amongst the people. There is no dearth of security forces in Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir is a political problem which won't be solved by military means. GOI needs to rethink and overhaul its policy.”

NC leader and former CM Omar Abdullah and party MP Farooq Abdullah called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to put forth their concerns.

Omar Abdullah tweeted about the meeting and said: “We requested him that no precipitous steps of any sort should be taken that may result in situation in the state, particularly the valley, worsening. We specifically asked him to let sub judice matters be settled by the courts and other matters be settled by an elected government.”

However, Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik has refuted the speculations regarding abrogation of Articles 35A and 370. He said the people of the state should not pay heed to “rumours”. “The orders circulated are invalid. Don’t pay attention to rumours. Everything is normal. Simple incidents are projected as something big here,” he said.

PM Modi to unfurl national flag in Kashmir on Independence Day

The Modi government is known to have decisions which are against conventions, such as changing the date of presentation of Union budget to February 1 in 2017, departing from the colonial-era tradition of doing so on the last working day of that month.

Also, the railway budget, which used to be presented separately, was merged with the main budget under the Modi government.

It is, therefore, being speculated that PM Modi may break from past and hoist the national flag from Kashmir instead of the Red Fort.

Assembly elections

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP has indicated that the security build up was taking place in the Kashmir valley as preparation for state elections. The political parties in the valley, such as the PDP and NC, have been demanding assembly elections ever since the governor dissolved the house on November 22 last year.

Voting rights to West Pakistan refugees

There is another speculation about giving voting rights to the refugees of western Pakistan. This is a long-pending demand of a section of the Kashmiris.

Counter-insurgency

As against all speculations, the Centre says the troop deployment is taking place to strengthen the counter-insurgency grid and law and order duties in the Kashmir valley. The troops are being air-lifted and sent by trains, ministry of home affairs (MHA) officials said.

News agency PTI quoted sources and said, "Based on the assessment of the internal security situation, training requirements, the need for paramilitary troops to be rotated for rest and recuperation, induction and de-induction of central forces is a continuous and dynamic process… It has never been the practice to discuss in the public domain the details of deployment and movement of paramilitary forces deployed in a particular theatre.”

Sources said the government has ordered deployment of additional troops after receiving inputs of about a major terrorist attack being planned by Pakistan-based terrorist groups in the Kashmir valley.

It is also possible that the government is trying to make arrangements for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland, the sources said.

In any case, it is being widely realised that the troop build-up is related to some decision which the Modi government may announce or some Ordinance which it may promulgate after the ongoing budget session comes to an end on August 7.

