New Delhi, Aug 5: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday increased security measures in anticipation of the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
According to officials, patrolling has been intensified in the Akhnoor LoC area with the establishment of checkposts at various locations. Vehicles and documents are also being thoroughly checked.
A police advisory has instructed security forces to observe a ‘dry day' and refrain from moving convoys.
Additionally, the Amarnath Yatra was halted for a day as a precautionary measure. “The yatra has been halted for the day as a precautionary measure. No fresh batch was allowed from Jammu to Kashmir today,” an officer said.
So far this year, more than 490,000 pilgrims have visited the 3,880-meter-high cave shrine.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold the ‘Ekatma Mahotsav' rally to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Article 370. “August 5, 2019, is a very important day in our lives. On this significant day five years ago, a historic blunder was corrected and we, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, united completely with the rest of India. We are now able to enjoy all the rights and liberties and are progressing on the path of development,” said Gupta.
On the other hand, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) will observe August 5 as a “black day” and stage a protest outside the party headquarters.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian Union. The Centre also enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, which bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories: Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
