A series of emergency orders issued by the state, arrival of paramilitary troops and the mass arrests of separatists and religious preachers in last two days has sparked wild speculations in Kashmir and enveloped the region in an unusual fear of war.
The unusually high tension in the Valley has come in the backdrop of the Pulwama attack.
The series of measures ordered by various government departments, either deliberate or coincidentally taking place in a brief span, has generated intense anxiety among residents who rushed to markets to ration large quantities of food and fuel.
The orders included a health department circular ordering Chief Medical Officers to collect supplies of medicines and surgical disposables, a food department circular ordering complete sale of foodgrains and a circular of the Home Ministry ordering urgent deployment of 100 companies of the paramilitary forces.
The panic and rumours were first sparked two days ago when hundreds of residents reported an unusual night-time aerial activity as the sound of fighter planes and helicopters kept them awake through most of the night.
The fears were further strengthened as a massive crackdown was simultaneously launched against the leaders and activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a socio-political organisation.
“Whoever is the architect of the fear psychosis in Kashmir, whoever did it to test Kashmiris, whoever took sadistic pleasure out of our suffering, may you go through the same pain that we underwent in the last two days,” a north Kashmir resident wrote on Twitter.
The panic was not only limited to commoners as the political elite joined the bandwagon, inducing more panic and leading to fears that either Article 35A will be revoked in the next hearing in the Supreme Court or a war was imminent.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his father and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and briefed him about “the sense of panic” in Kashmir, urging the minister to step in with a statement and steps that reassure people.
“People in the Valley, especially in cities and towns, are taking everything said or done as a sign that some big trouble is just around the corner. People are hoarding food and fuel. Some government orders are adding to the sense of panic,” Omar said.
Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister, said there was a “sense of unease and panic in Kashmir”. “Nobody has a clue about what is to come but an ominous feeling of impending doom hangs in the air,” she said.
