SRINAGAR – India on Friday moved thousands of paramilitary troops tofurther bolster its security presence in occupied Kashmir days after asuicide attack in the region’s Pulwama district killed at least 44 soldiers.
New Delhi authorised and airlifted at least 100 paramilitary companies tothe occupied zone following the detention of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front(JKLF) Chief Yasin Malik on Friday and the arrests of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)workers in the latest crackdown against the resistance leadership.
According to the *Hindustan Times*link,a considerable build-up of security forces was being witnessed acrossKashmir after the Pulwama incident.
The banned group Jaish-e-Muhammad group had reportedly claimedresponsibility for the attack but New Delhi blamed Islamabad and threateneda retaliatory attack.
In response to India’s allegations, Prime Minister Imran Khan had promisedto conduct an investigation if New Delhi provided actionable evidence. Healso warned that Pakistan would ‘retaliate’ if attacked.
Indian occupying forces in the valley were placed on high alert followingthe Pulwama attack.
The move was termed a ‘well-designed conspiracy to pave way for furtheruncertainty in the region’ by the religious party.
“During the intervening night of 22-23 February, police and other forcesagencies launched mass arrest drive and raided many houses in the valley[IoK] wherein dozens of its central and district level leaders have beenarrested,” claimed JI in a statement.