Less than a week after moving 10,000 troops of paramilitaryforces to Kashmir, the centre is rushing about 25,000 more paramilitarypersonnel to the Valley, as part of a massive security drive. Official sourcessay the troops started arriving on Thursday morning and are being inducted invarious parts of the state.

The government had last week said that 100 companies (eachcompany has about 100 soldiers) were brought in to strengthen thecounter-insurgency grid in Kashmir. The decision to send the troops came afterNational Security Advisor Ajit Doval returned from a two-day visit to Kashmirvalley last week. Sources said he met senior officers and reviewed the law andorder situation in the state that's still under the President's rule.DirectorGeneral of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh had last week said there areless troops in north Kashmir and that is why the need for additional forces.Thetroop build-up has fueled speculations in Kashmir.

On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Maliksaid there is no plan to scrap Article 35A, which defines permanent residentsof the state and bars outsiders from purchasing and owning immovable property. Meanwhile,the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended till August 4. While the government citedadverse weather conditions as a reason for its suspension, the weatherdepartment has not predicted any major change in conditions. Official sourcessay a section of troops deployed for the Yatra are also being moved for someimpending law and order duty.Around 400 companies, which constitute about40,000 personnel, are deployed for the yatra's security.Sources say allsecurity formations have been asked to remain in a state of readiness.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat arrived in Srinagar onThursday to review the security preparations in Kashmir. The defence spokespersonsaid the army chief will be in Kashmir for two days.Meanwhile, former Jammu andKashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today andasked him to conduct elections in the state by the end of the year. MrAbdullah, who was part of a National Conference delegation that included hisfather Farooq Abdullah, another former chief minister, also urged PM Modi torefrain from upsetting the fragile situation in the Kashmir Valley.

Omar Abdullah would not specify if Article 35A (and Article370) was discussed, but said any discussion "must cover all issues,including Article 35A and Article 370".

Last week, PDP chief and former Chief Minister MehboobaMufti had warned the centre against tinkering with the provision, saying itwould be akin to setting a powder keg on fire.