Burhan Wani death anniversary: Ajit Doval monitoring security in J&K, asks forces to ensure peaceful day
To stop mass protest rallies amid fears of more militant recruitment on the death anniversary of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander who was killed on 8 July, 2016, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has instructed Jammu and Kashmir (currently under Governor’s Rule) to ensure “peaceful day instead of chaos on the streets”, in a security review meeting in Raj Bhavan in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state.
On the second death anniversary of Wani, whose killing had sparked mass street protests prompting hundreds to join the militancy in the Kashmir Valley, intelligence agencies have received reports that militants might carry out fresh recruitment in south Kashmir, particularly in the Tral area of Pulwama. Protesters might also hit the streets leading to violence and anarchy in the area, which has been at the forefront of an uprising against New Delhi.
“There was already a general threat against security forces. The recruitment hasn’t increased of late; it is the same, an almost static figure. We have been anticipating some kind of threat on Wani’s death anniversary. That is why there has been an increase in deployment in these areas,” said Inspector-General Ravideep Sahi of the CRPF, “I think they are planning to doing something, but we are ready.”
ion after the breakup of the PDP-BJP government, there are strong rumors in Srinagar that the BJP is likely to form the government along with the breakaway faction of the PDP.
The curious presence of the NSA in Kashmir has sparked rumours that the security agencies may be at work again to form a third bloc in the state — ahead of the state Assembly and General Election — that will be backed by the BJP. The NSA left Kashmir an hour after the home minister on Thursday. Omar Abdullah, former chief minister said this “trickle of one MLA every 24/36 hours is not purely random” and hinted that this is being “orchestrated”. He said the “potential beneficiaries” of it are sitting in Delhi, alluding towards former Jammu and Kashmir ministers in Mehbooba’s cabinet — Haseeb Drabu and Sajad Gani Lone.
However, undermining the abilities of Drabu, who was humiliatingly thrown out of her cabinet by Mehbooba, will amount to doing injustice to understanding the complexities of the evolution of new political structures in the state.
“Drabu became close to the BJP during the tenure of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. He worked out the agenda for the PDP-BJP coalition and has already taken credit for writing the PDP’s self-rule document. Although he was hated by most of his party members, there are some PDP legislators who admire him and are still close to him. You can never be sure which way the wind will blow in the coming months,” Baba said.
