Panic is palpable on the streets of Kashmir. No one is sure what is going to happen. Nearly every Kashmiri household has stocked essential items and fuels to tide over any eventuality. Separatists and politicians are fanning fears. Kashmiris, like people across the nation, are debating whether it is trifurcation, abrogation of 35A, delimitation, flag hoisting at every Panchayat in the Valley on August 15 or a war between India and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan, who is the mentor of Jammu and Kashmir state teams, along with age-group aspirants, left for their respective homes after ongoing Under-16 and Under-19 trials in Srinagar have been postponed due to prevailing security situation in the Valley. The state administration has issued an advisory for all tourists and Amarnath Yatris to leave the valley due to a potential terror threat, an NDTV report said.
A reporter said women are keeping a close watch on their teenage sons in the wake of warning given by the Indian Army.
On asked what is happening in the state, Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Saturday: “All’s well, for now. Whatever will happen tomorrow I can’t say.”
The centre has kept the cards close to its chest. Even the top police officials, babus and Army officials are aware what will happen in the next 24 hours. Rumour-mongering has crossed all limits. The killing of seven terrorists of a Pakistani border action team (BAT) by the army in Keran sector off the Line of Control (LoC) two days ago has also added to fuel to the fire. Pro-Pakistani elements have been
“Around 40,000 Islamic fighters led by Hafeez Sayeed or Azhar Masood have been seen near the LoC in Gurez, which is close to Gilgit-Baltistan. They are waiting to sneak in”. This might look like the fib of an uninformed rumour monger, but when this comes from someone who claims to have access to inside information, it is natural for Kashmiris to tremble with fear, but just momentarily.
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