Governor takes charge, Centre adopts hard line
NIA likely to question Hurriyat leaders
Security forces are preparing to resume counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the government is set to mount pressure on the leadership of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, officials said on Wednesday, as Kashmir governor NN Vohra took charge of the state administration and put the assembly under suspended animation.
As Jammu and Kashmir came under Governor’s Rule, a day after the state’s nearly 40-monthold coalition government collapsed, home minister Rajnath Singh said that the Centre will not tolerate terrorism any longer, after ending a monthlong halt on counter-insurgency operations.
“Elimination of terrorism and restoration of peace in Kashmir is our biggest target,” Singh said on a visit to Lucknow, a constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha.
He warned militant groups against any misadventure. “Our security forces are ready to foil any such activity,” said Singh.
President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to Governor’s Rule in the state on Wednesday, a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended its alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), forcing chiefminister Mehbooba Mufti’s resignation.
Governor Vohra made the recommendation in a report he sent to the home ministry on Tuesday night.
On Sunday, the Centre ordered security forces to resume counter-insurgency operations in J&K, ending a month-long halt for the Islamic holy month of Ramzan.