J&K: Telangana govt arranges return of students studying in Srinagar amid on going operation by forces in the state

Telangana Chief Secretary S K Joshi on Saturday directed officials of Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to bring 130 Telugu students studying in NIT (National Institute of Technology) in Srinagar to the state in view of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The students approached MLA K T Rama Rao, the working president of ruling TRS to bring them back safely to the state and he brought the matter to the notice of the Chief Secretary, an official release said.

The Resident Commissioner of the Bhavan is making travel arrangements for the students, it said. Meanwhile, BJP MP from Karimnagar, Bandi Sanjay Kumar said efforts are being made for the students to travel to Telangana.

The Chief Secretary's directive comes in the backdrop of tourists and Amarnath Yatra pilgrims starting to leave the Kashmir Valley following the state government's advisory asking them to cut short their stay, even as J&K Governor S P Malik said there was no need to panic. The advisory was issued after the Army on Friday said Pakistan-based terrorists were planning to target the Amarnath.

READ: J&K: Governor Satya Pal Malik says 'Pak deliberately keeping borders hot' to show Donald Trump, shuns rumours of 'trifurcation'

J&K Governor S P Malik on present situation in Kashmir:

In an exclusive interaction with Republic TV's Zeenat Zeeshan, Malik asserted that Pakistan is deliberately keeping the 'borders hot' by heavy shelling with the motive to show it to the US President Donald Trump.  

He said, "I've assured people there is nothing to panic about. According to my communication with leaders in Delhi, there is no eminent panic. As long as the deployment of security officers is concerned, they've been here since the elections. Now they want to go and new forces want to come in. You must have seen in Srinagar, there has been more jet sortie in the past be week. Pakistan is deliberately keeping the borders hot. There has been so much shelling in the past 4-6 days that we had to use such heavy weapons, because they want to show Trump that this is a dispute. This is not related to us. There were rumours of trifurcation, but all these things will happen from the Parliament, this cannot happen in a day. I don't see why people should be worried about."

The following press release was issued on Friday night from the Jammu and Kashmir Governor's Office:

Maintain calm and do not believe rumours - Governor to a delegation of political leaders 

The Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Satya Pal Malik met at short notice a delegation of political leaders including Ms Mehbooba Mufti, Mr Shah Faesal, Mr Sajjad Lone and Mr Imran Ansari. They had sought to meet the Governor who immediately gave them time.

The delegation expressed concerns about the panic situation in the Kashmir valley created by the developments during the day including the advisory issued by the government asking Amarnath Yatris and tourists to return as soon as possible.

Governor Malik informed the delegation that there were serious and credible inputs which were available to the security agencies regarding terrorist attacks on the Amarnath Yatra. There was a Press Conference today afternoon by the Corps Commander of the Army and the DGP in which details of the weapons and ammunition recovered was given. Details of the seriousness of the threats that are there were also given. They also mentioned that the security forces were going to tackle these threats head on and will not allow them to succeed.

It is in this context that the government had issued an advisory asking Yatris and tourists to return as soon as possible. These are a vulnerable group of people who do not know the area and are extremely vulnerable to a terrorist or a fidayeen attack. It is the responsibility of the state to provide security to all its citizens. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, Yatris and tourists have been asked to return. This is to ensure that no terrorist attack takes place on them. 

Unnecessary panic is being created by linking this to all kinds of other issues. A pure security measure is being mixed up with issues with which it has no connection. That is the cause of the panic. This has been clarified in the evening by the Home Secretary and the Divisional Commissioner. 

The Governor requested the political leaders to ask their supporters not to mix up matters, to maintain calm and not believe exaggerated rumours being circulated all around. The Governor himself had clarified matters on 35A yesterday in Baramulla and the day before in Srinagar.