Centre sends 100 more paramilitary companies to Srinagar amid Kashmir crackdown

The Centre sent an additional 100 companies of paramilitary forces to Srinagar to reinforce security after police detained JKLF chief Yasin Malik on Friday night and arrested dozens of Jamaat-e-Islami members in the Kashmir Valley. Security forces have been significantly built up across Jammu and Kashmir since the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF personnel.

Arrests

About two dozen people associated with the Jamaat-e-Islami were arrested in central, north and south Kashmir as part of the crackdown. Police had not commented on the detentions, and there was no confirmation of further arrests, although police and paramilitary forces were placed on high alert.

In a statement, the Jamaat said police and other agencies had launched a mass arrest drive and raided many homes during the night of 22-23 February 2019, detaining several of its central and district leaders. Among them, it said, were its chief Dr Abdul Hamid Fayaz, spokesperson Advocate Zahid Ali and former secretary general Ghulam Qadir Lone. The group called the action a planned conspiracy to create further uncertainty in the region.

Reactions and context

Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticised the arrests, arguing that a person can be detained but his ideas cannot.

Earlier, on February 11, the state government had sought an adjournment of the hearing in the Supreme Court on the contentious Article 35 A case. The government had also recently withdrawn the security cover of separatist leaders in Kashmir.

What happened next

In August 2019 Parliament ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 and reorganised the state into two union territories.

See also: election news.

Originally published on 23 February 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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