Article 370 verdict | No intention to act on presumptions, assumptions: IGP Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 9: In the wake of the Article 370 verdict on Monday, Police on Saturday said that nobody would be allowed to disrupt the prevailing peaceful atmosphere and they had no intention to act on presumptions and assumptions.

“We have no intention to act on presumptions and assumptions,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, Virdi Kumar Birdi told Greater Kashmir Saturday evening. “But we must uphold public law and order.”

At the same time, the Kashmir Police chief said that nobody would be allowed to disrupt the prevailing peaceful atmosphere.

“If anybody disrupts, we will act under the law,” he said.

The Kashmir Police chief’s statement came after rumours floating ahead of the verdict which is being pronounced by the Supreme Court on Monday.
There have been rumours of putting some people under house arrest and subsequent restrictions on the movement of people on Monday.

Another senior Police officer said that they had no plans to stop anybody from doing their normal chores.

“People have been cooperative and we are hopeful of more cooperation,” he said.

At the same time, social media platforms are being monitored closely and those who are spreading rumours will be dealt with sternly.
The Supreme Court would pronounce its verdict on December 11 on a batch of petitions, which challenged the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019.

In August and September this year, the SC heard the petitioners and the government over the provision on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud would deliver the verdict. Other bench members are Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, and Surya Kant.
On August 5, 2019, the Central government decided to revoke Article 370 of the Indian constitution.

President Ram Nath Kovind issued Constitutional Order 272, which made certain changes to Article 367, affecting how Article 370 would be read.
This allowed for changes to be made to Article 370.

In the backdrop of the upcoming events, on Friday, J&K Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order (L&O), Vijay Kumar directed the District Magistrates and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to keep an eye on the situation and take preventive and punitive actions in case anybody tries to disrupt peace.

During the meeting, all the district heads were stressed to keep an eye on the situation, and take preventive and punitive actions under the law, against those who indulge in mischief, misinformation, and misuse of social media.

He stressed that miscreants and mischievous elements should not be allowed to vitiate peace and harmony.

The ADGP L&O had sensitised the Police Department about the calibrated response to be taken in case of any untoward scene emerging from the situation.