Troop deployment for security needs: Ministry of Home Affairs

NEW DELHI: As fear and panic gripped Jammu and Kashmir over additional deployment of troops and cancellation of Amarnath Yatra, the central government said the movement of paramilitary forces in the Valley was based on the security situation and requirements of rotation and that such things are not to be discussed in the public domain.

Officials, however, added that this is not the first time Amarnath Yatra has been cancelled due to security reasons. On being asked about the J&K order, asking tourists and pilgrims to leave the Valley, a top government official said, “It is not an ordinary advisory.”

The additional deployment has further led to speculations among the residents of the Valley that Centre is mulling abrogation of Article 35A and Article 370 A within one week. Sources in the ministry, however, said 100 companies (10,000 personnel) of central forces had been ordered to be deployed about a week ago. “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,” a ministry of home affairs official said.