Narendra Modi led Indian government has deployed more troops in occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the name of bolstering so-called security measures ahead of Indian parliamentary elections and Hindu Amarnath Yatra in the territory. According to Kashmir Media Service, the deployment includes the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and National Security Guard (NSG). In this regard, Indian officials said that these paramilitary forces already arrived in the occupied territory by April 1, 2024. Additional forces’ personnel have been deployed along highways and vital road links, the officials said. It is worth noting that over one million Indian forces’ personnel already deployed across the length and breadth of IIOJK had made the life of the Kashmiri people a hell. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of IIOJK, PK Pole in a media interview said that ‘preparations are underway to conduct free, fair, transparent, peaceful, and incident-free elections, with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) companies having arrived to support security efforts’.

A police official said that multiple checkpoints have been placed along the Srinagar-Jammu highway to keep track of the commuters. Frisking is being intensified along the major spots on the highway, he added. In Srinagar, police and paramilitary forces have established barricades at multiple locations in the city, as well as in other major towns of Kashmir. “Random searches of cars and motorcycles are being conducted,” the official said. “The deployment of CAPF personnel will not only provide security at polling stations but also assist local police in maintaining [so-called] law and order”. “There will be round-the-clock patrolling of yatra routes by forces personnel during daytime and through 360-degree camera-fitted Mobile Bunker Vehicles (MBVs), he said The Lok Sabha elections in IIOJK will be held in five phases. The first phase will be held on April 19, second phase on April 26, third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13 and the fifth phase on May 20, 2024. The Amarnath Yatra will commence from 1st July 2024 and conclude on 31 August 2024 in the occupied territory

Credit: Independent News Pakistan