Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday said that it has ensured that not a single life is lost despite efforts by Pakistan to destabilise the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam said that prohibitory orders were imposed in the Valley following credible inputs on possible terror attacks in the Valley after the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370.
He said the steps taken by the government included restrictions on free movement and telecom connectivity, prevention of large gatherings and closure of educational institutions.
A few preventive detentions of individuals were also made in accordance with the provisions of law to maintain law and order in the Valley, he said.
Jammu and Kashmir was put under virtual curfew on 5 August when the Modi government scrapped the Article 370 and split the state into two union territories.
Mehbooba Mufti and another former CM Omar Abdullah were also among 400 political leaders of the Valley who were detained.
The Chief Secretary announced that schools will be opened next week area by area. Movement of public transport will be made operational. Government offices have started functioning from today. Telecom connectivity will be gradually eased and restored in a phased manner, he added.
Addressing the media in Srinagar, Subrahmanyam further said that 12 out of 22 districts were functioning normally with some limited restrictions in five districts. “The measures put in place have ensured that there has not been a single loss of life,” he said.
Preventive detentions are being reviewed and appropriate decisions will be made based on law and order assessments, the J-K government informed.
The government’s focus is on the earliest return of normalcy in the Valley while ensuring that terrorist forces are given no opportunity to wreak havoc as in the past.
Earlier in the day, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that the restrictions imposed in the Kashmir Valley will be lifted in the next few days, adding that the security agencies must be trusted as the ground situation is being reviewed daily.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the apex court that the “security agencies are taking daily stock of the situation”. “We know the ground reality.”
Earlier on August 14, the J-K government had said that restrictions are being eased out in a phased manner in the Valley and the situation in the Jammu division has been restored to normal.