5 Years Of Abrogation Of Article 370: Security Beefed Up In J&K, BJP To Hold Celebratory Rally

The BJP has planned a rally to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Article 370 abrogation, while opposition parties will hold protests on the occasion.

In recent months, there has been a spike in terror attacks in the Jammu region (Image: PTI)

Source : PTI

Security has been beefed up in several areas of Jammu and Kashmir, as a precautionary measure to maintain law, in view of the 5th anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 in the Union Territory on Monday. In the Akhnoor LoC area in Jammu district, police have set up checkposts at various places to thoroughly check vehicles and documents. Along with the police, other security agencies are also in alert mode, to maintain strict surveillance across the UT and prevent any infiltration or other incidents from Pakistan.

"Looking at the terrorist activity, we are always alert, be it August 5 or August 15. We cannot say everything regarding our security preparations to the camera; we want to assure everybody that we are not leaving any stone unturned when it comes to security," news agency IANS quoted South Jammu Superintendent of Police, Ajay Sharma, as saying.

#WATCH | Security heightened in Akhnoor in view of the 5th Anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.

On August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abrogated, taking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and statehood, and splitting it into two Union Territories. pic.twitter.com/uhjm8TARYw

— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2024

Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, 2019, taking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and statehood and splitting it into two Union Territories.

BJP Plans Mega Rally 

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to hold the ‘Ekatma Mahatsav’ rally on Monday to celebrate the anniversary of Article 370 abrogation. The rally will be held at Bana Singh Stadium in RS Pura on Monday to commemorate the complete unification of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India, said J&K BJP general secretary, Vibodh Gupta. 

“The day of August 5, 2019, is a very important day in our lives. On this vital day five years ago, a historic blunder was corrected and we, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, united completely with the rest of India. We are now able to enjoy all the rights and the liberties, and are progressing on the path of development,” PTI quoted Gupta as saying. 

Opposition To Protest

Opposition parties, including the Congress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have criticised the BJP's move to organise a ceremony to celebrate the Article 370 abrogation. 

A local PDP leader told PTI that a demonstration will be staged outside the party headquarters in Gandhinagar, Jammu to observe August 5 as a “black day”.

The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) is also set to hold a protest at the Maharaja Hari Singh Park in Jammu today to condemn the Article 370 abrogation.

Meanwhile, lashing out at the saffron party over the abrogation of Article 370, J&K Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said, "What was achieved in five years, the BJP should answer to the people, especially Dogras, instead of rubbing salts on their wounds."

Slamming J-K BJP for its "shamelessness and compulsion to celebrate the day of J-K's destruction", Sharma said the saffron party is "celebrating the downgrading" of the historic Dogra state, snatching its status, dignity, identity and rights of the people of J&K.

Recent Terror Attacks In Jammu

In recent months, there has been a spike in terror attacks in the Jammu region, including an attack on an army convoy in Kathua and encounters in Doda and Udhampur. In July, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 28 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed in 11 terror-related incidents and 24 encounters or counterterror operations up to July 21 this year.

Last month, one Pakistani intruder was killed as Indian Army troops foiled an attack by the Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machchal sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. One Indian Army soldier lost his life, while four others, including a major-rank officer, sustained injuries in the attack.