High alert across state after scrapping of Article 370

Sources said, since the passing of the Bill revoking of autonomy status to Jammu and Kashmir, the entire region particularly, the tourist destinations, were put on high alert as per the instruction of the IG of Police (Central Zone) Varadharajulu, the DIG (Thanajvur Range) Loganathan monitored the range and formed three special teams to monitor Thanjavur.

While, a team was deputed in the public gathering places like old bus stand, another team was deployed at Big Temple premises from late hours of Monday. The team at Thanjavur Big temple inspected the tourist and their belongings. While the sniffer dog Caeser conducted an inspection of the entire premises. Police security has been intensified at the BJP offices also.

Meanwhile, in Tiruvarur, security has been tightened at Muslim populated areas like Muthupettai. Similarly, security has been beefed up at all important religious places. While in Nagapattinam, the Velankanni Basilica and Nagore Durgah were provided tight security.

Bomb threat to Karur court Meanwhile, the Karur combined court buildings received a bomb threat letter addressed to Principal District Judge followed by a phone call to the court office on Tuesday morning. 

Soon, the Superintendent of Police was informed and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) along with sniffer dog Handy searched the entire premises. Later it was declared as a hoax call and letter. The court staff and the visitors were allowed inside only after a thorough check up as a prevention measure.

DGP JK Tripathy on Tuesday set up a five-member team to initiate precautionary measures to avert untoward incidents in the state following revocation of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.  The move comes a day after Union Home Ministry directed all security forces and law enforcement agencies across the country to stay on ‘maximum alert.’ According to a release from the DGP, the officers, all in the rank of Additional Director General of Police, have been allotted different zones in the state. The officers are directed to take charge of designated areas, take stock of law and order developments and initiate adequate precautionary measures to avert untoward incidents and supervise law and order bundobust, it said.

After the Union government removed special status to Jammu and Kashmir in both the houses of the Parliament, the NDA comprising AIADMK and BJP in the state have started campaigning by stating the move as a bold and historic one spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.   

“AIADMK leader Amma (Jayalalithaa) always wanted Kashmir to be a binding state of Indian Constitution and Amma’s vision has materialised today,” AIADMK leader D Jayakumar told reporters on Tuesday. 

Amma always wanted Kashmir to be a peaceful state and for this reason she raised the issue in Rajya Sabha in her 1984 speech, Jayakumar said. Responding to the DMK’s comment that the corrupt AIADMK was blindly supporting the BJP, Jayakumar said DMK has no locus standi to speak about corruption. If the DMK’s family properties are attached, state government can plan its annual budget, Jayakumar said.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan also took pot-shots against the DMK and said that the opposition party fails to understand the logic behind the public welfare of Kashmiris. Even parties like AAP, TDP and BSP that ideologically differ with the BJP have welcomed the Centre on Kashmir issue.

AIADMK mouthpiece News J, termed the scrapping of special status to Kashmir as a far-sighted bold decision by PM Modi and did a series of TV programmes highlighting that the Kashmir will now see economic growth and minimise India’s expenditure. AIADMK cadre also circulated the text of the speech made by the late AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa on scrapping of article 370.