Kashmir remained on the edge on Friday as a fresh order asking tourists and Amarnath yatris to leave the Valley triggered panic among the residents as they started stocking up dry ration and essentials, fearing long law and order disturbance.
The state governmentissued an advisory to Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to curtail their stay inKashmir immediately.
“Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs ofterror threats with specific targeting of the Amarnath Yatra, and given theprevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safetyand security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they maycurtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures toreturn as soon as possible,” an order issued by Principal Secretary, HomeDepartment, Shaleen Kabra here read.
The order led to panic in Kashmir which has remained tensefor the past few days after the Centre ordered deployment of 100 companies ofadditional troops in the Valley.
The deployment of the troops and various orders gave rise tothe speculations about some major decision in the offing regarding the Jammuand Kashmir’s special status.
Apprehending deterioration in law and order situation,people were seen lining up at departmental stores in the city and elsewhere tostock up dry ration and essentials.
By the time, this report was filed; there was total chaos inall markets in Srinagar, with grocery stores, petroleum retail outlets, medicalshops, and ATMs witnessing unprecedented rush of people, who were busy stockingup supplies with an apprehension that “something big” is about to happen.
Soon after the government issued the security advisory touristsholidaying in Kashmir started packing up their bags. ” We have received large number ofcancellations for coming days, whosoever was currently holidaying in Kashmirare packing their bags ready to leave, this is complete chaos,” saidBashir Ahmad, a hotelier.
Former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party chiefMehbooba Mufti also took to twitter and wrote: “Complete chaos on the streetsof Srinagar. People rushing to ATMs, petrol pumps & stocking up onessential supplies. Is GOI only concerned about the safety of yatris whileKashmiris have been left to their own devices?”
“There is something fishy, my mother forced me to buygrocery and rice which could atleast last for a month. But there is rush thatit took me three hours to pile up supplies,” said Muhammad Qamran, who was busyhoarding supplies in his car at Zaina Kadal in old city.
At Karan Nagar, there were around 500 vehicles waiting to berefueled which led to traffic jam thus leading to chaos in the market.
“My mother is on dialysis. I have to take her for treatmenttwice a week, therefore I have to ensure that there is enough fuel in my car incase of any emergency,” said Bashir Ahmad, a local resident.
Not only people are thronging grocery and fuel outlets, butthere was a huge rush in medical shops selling medicines and baby food items.
ATM kiosks were also burdened with rush of people trying towithdraw their money. At many places ATMs dried up after running out of cash.
Which tourist will hang around after seeing this order, saysOmar
Former chief minister and National Conference vice-presidentOmar Abdullah on Friday reactedstrongly to the security advisory on Friday asking Amarnath pilgrims andtourists to leave Kashmir as soon as possible.
Omar in a series of tweets said, “Although thisunprecedented order would seem to suggest a genuine fear of a massive terrorstrike directed at Amarnath ji yatris or/and tourists this will do nothing todampen the sense of fear & foreboding that prevails in the valley at themoment,”.
The comments come after the Jammu and Kashmir administrationasked Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to immediately cut short their stay in theValley and return as soon as possible in the wake of intelligence inputs of”specific threats” to the pilgrimage.”Seriously? You think an official ordertelling tourists to leave immediately will not cause them to run from thevalley as fast as they can? Which tourist will hang around after seeing thisorder. The airport & highway will be choked with people leaving,” hetweeted.