Fresh troop deployment in Kashmir triggers fear, social media rumours

The government has said that fresh troop deployment is the re-induction of hundreds of paramilitary companies in Jammu and Kashmir as they have come back from the recently held assembly election in several states, however, this fresh build-up is triggering fear and rumours especially on social media platforms.

Meanwhile, many mainstream political leaders have also indicated that they may be arrested again. One of the politicians Sajad Lone, in his tweet has tried to sum up the rumour mills working in Kashmir.

He said in his tweet: “We want to believe even in rumours rumoured to be rumours. We love rumours don’t we. Last few days has been all about rumours and conspiracies. They say don’t believe a rumour to b true until govt actually denies it”.

According to the news reports appearing in different Delhi-based media outlets, a large number of paramilitary forces have been deployed in North Kashmir and in many parts of the Jammu region.

Officials quoted by these media outlets have said that there is no truth in the rumours that the fresh troop deployment is a prelude to some big development in Jammu and Kashmir as the rumors are making rounds that Kashmir would be bifurcated further and made the part of Jammu and Ladakh.

“These troops are returning from states where elections were held recently. They are being re-inducted. It’s not a new deployment,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar has told a New Delhi-based news channel.

It is in place to mention that before the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the Central government dispatched 800 additional paramilitary companies to Jammu and Kashmir to maintain law and order post this development with a strict curfew for months.