Srinagar, February 23: Hours after the Jammu and Kashmir police arrested Kashmiri separatist leader and JKLF chief Yasin Malik in a midnight crackdown on Friday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has sent hundred additional companies of paramilitary forces to the state on an urgent basis. Citing the tensions in the border state post-Pulwama attack and the crackdown on separatist leaders, the additional forces have been airlifted to the Valley on an immediate basis.

On Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs sent an ‘urgent’ notice on Friday evening led to the deployment of extra para-military forces in the state. With the arrest of Malik, the tensed situation in the state is expected to escalate, as the detention of the popular leader comes days before the hearing of Article 35A in the Supreme Court. Yasin Malik, Separatist Leader, Arrested In Midnight Raid in Jammu & Kashmir. 

Also, Jammu and Kashmir police and existing security forces have worked through the night rolling out their deployment plan for the next few days, amid the prevailing escalated tension in and around the border areas.

This is by far the biggest deployment in the state post-Pulwama terror strike on the CRPF convoy, when an explosive-laden SUV rammed into the vehicle -  killing 40 security personnel. The terror strike was carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed, after which the tension mounted in the state and security was beefed up to multiple folds. Citing this, security cover of several separatist leaders was revoked, including Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah and Saleem Geelani.

Now with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear the matter of Article 35A on Monday, the arrest of Malik in the midnight raid is not a peaceful sign for the valley. In the similar crackdown, police have also arrested dozens of Jamaat-e-Islami separatists, including its chief Abdul Hamid Fayaz, while Geelani is in House arrest. Even a tight watch is kept on his movements.  Post-UNSC Statement on Kashmir, US President Donald Trump Calls Situation ‘Very Very Bad And Dangerous’ Between India and Pakistan. 

According to the Article 35A, to be heard in the apex court on Monday, the Indian Constitution grants special rights and privileges to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, which bars people from outside Jammu and Kashmir acquire any immovable property in the state.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 23, 2019 10:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).