Article 370 scrapped: State police says situation in Jammu and Kashmir peaceful, no untoward incident in last one week

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday night said the situation in the state was peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported in last one week. "There has been no untoward incident barring minor stone-pelting which was dealt with on the spot and was nipped in the bud," Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told PTI.

He was asked about the situation in the state after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told media-persons in New Delhi that situation in J-K has deteriorated.Minutes after Gandhi made the statement, the Srinagar Police also tweeted that the situation was peaceful. "Situation in valley has remained normal today. No untoward incident has been reported. At selective locations restriction was lifted temporarily," it said. 

The government also issued a statement, saying the DGP and Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam have requested people not to believe fabricated and motivated news regarding incidents of firing in the Valley. It said no firing incident has taken place in Kashmir in the past six days, adding the situation is calm and people are cooperative and restrictions are being relaxed to ease the situation.

On Saturday, Srinagar and other towns witnessed good traffic for Eid shopping, it said.  Earlier in the day, the Union Home Ministry said that there have been a few stray protests in the Kashmir Valley in the past few days against the scrapping of special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and none of these involved a crowd of more than 20 people.

"There have been a few stray protests in Srinagar and Baramulla and none of these involved a crowd of more than 20 people," a ministry spokesperson said. The spokesperson also dismissed a media report about a protest by about 10,000 people in Kashmir as "fabricated and incorrect". 

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NSA Ajit Doval's ground report:

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval who is in the valley sent a report to the Home Ministry saying the situation is normal in Kashmir.

On ground to review security situation, NSA Ajit Doval told the Centre that the decision to revoke Article 370 has been widely welcomed by the people of Kashmir. There is peace and normalcy in J&K and it had been event free. No agitation and people are also moving about for essential work," NSA Ajit Doval said.

Further in his report, NSA Ajit Doval said locals feel reassured with Amit Shah's statement on Jammu and Kashmir becoming a state again. Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that J&K will become a state again one day at the appropriate time if situation improves and that we don’t want it to remain UT forever has been welcomed by local population, Doval said. Locals are supportive and feel the change was well-planned and feel sufficiently reassured by statements and actions of Centre, Doval mentioned in his report to the Centre.

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Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen KJS Dhillon's statement:

Republic TV on Thursday spoke exclusively and at length to Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, who gave an on-ground account of the current security situation in the Kashmir valley in the aftermath of its full integration as Indian Parliament passed Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill that scraped Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two union territories - J&K and Ladakh.

Informing about the security situation he said, " In the last 4 days there has not been a single human casualty - be it civilian or security personnel. That is an achievement in itself. Despite lots happening, the control is positive and there is absolute calm in the valley. Through your channel, I can tell you it is absolutely peaceful, security forces are in control, civil administration is in control, there are certain restrictions, but withstanding all that the civil administration is in control. Medicine shops are all open, hospitals are all open, medical passes are been given to all individuals - whenever there is a need to go to hospital or any other place. In addition, air ticket is considered as security pass, if anyone has air ticket then they will not be stopped anywhere." 

He then clarified that army is reaching at far flung areas to help each and every citizens: "There is no need to panic. Everyone is being looked after. Having said that - there are certain restrictions for safety and security of people. Security situation is 100 % under control and normal as of now," the Chinar Corps Commander said.

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