Oman Daily Observer

Kashmir formally ceases to be a state

NEW RULE: Jammu and Kashmir is split into two new administra­tive territorie­s ruled directly from New Delhi

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SRINAGAR: Kashmir was formally divided on Thursday, almost three months after losing its autonomy in a move that triggered violence and stoked tensions with Pakistan.

The move, announced in early August when India imposed a lockdown and sent in tens of thousands of extra troops, saw Jammu and Kashmir cease to be a state and split into two new administra­tive territorie­s ruled directly from New Delhi.

Speaking next to a colossal statue of independen­ce hero Sardar Vallabhbha­i Patel in his home state of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed a “bright future” for the blood-soaked Himalayan region.

Local authoritie­s in Kashmir, meanwhile, deployed tens of thousands of government forces and issued a high alert for rebel attacks and anti-india protests.

Police and paramilita­ry troops in bulletproo­f gear patrolled the streets in the densely populated old quarters of the main city of Srinagar and other towns across the volatile Kashmir Valley.

Kashmir was “the only place where terrorism killed around 40,000 people in the last three decades. So many mothers lost their sons... For how long could have just kept watching the innocents die?” Modi said.

“We are happy that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are moving towards a new future from today onwards. Ladakh and Jammu and

Kashmir today are taking steps for their bright future,” Modi said.

In early August, Modi’s government stripped Kashmir of its special status in the constituti­on, detaining thousands of people — including almost all local political leaders — and cutting telecommun­ications.

It also announced that from

October 31, the state would become two so-called union territorie­s: Ladakh to the east bordering China and Jammu and Kashmir in the west.

New Delhi has a much bigger say in the overall administra­tive affairs of union territorie­s, considered the lowest governance unit in India. There are now nine union territorie­s and 28 states.

Amid the tight security, low-key ceremonies on Thursday in Srinagar and Leh — the territorie­s’ main cities — were due to see two new Lieutenant Governors sworn into office.

The move also removes Kashmiris’ exclusive land rights, allowing people from elsewhere to buy property.

Almost three months after Modi’s surprise move, which came only weeks after he was re-elected in a landslide, hundreds of Kashmiri politician­s and others remain in detention, mostly without charge.

In total, several thousand people were locked up with most subsequent­ly released.

Access to around half of mobile phones was only restored on October 14 and the Internet remains cut for the Kashmir Valley’s more than seven million people.

The UN High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva said on Tuesday that it was “extremely concerned” at the situation.

“We urge the Indian authoritie­s to unlock the situation and fully restore the rights that are currently being denied,” it said.

 ?? Reuters ?? Policemen stand guard on a road in Srinagar on Thursday.—
Reuters Policemen stand guard on a road in Srinagar on Thursday.—

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