Shortly after Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday announcedthe scrapping of Article 370, additional troops were rushed to the Valley totackle any untoward incident. News agency ANI reported that the Indian Army andthe Indian Air Force have been put on high alert.

Earlier inputs said that nearly 8000 paramilitary troopswere airlifted from different parts of the country to the Kashmir Valley. Thetroops were airlifted from different states, including Uttar Pradesh, Odishaand Assam.Central Reserve Police Force Director General Rajiv Bhatnagar wasalso sent to Jammu and Kashmir to review the law and order situation in thewake of the fresh development.

Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat, who was slated tovisit Jaisalmer for the fifth edition of Army Scout Masters Competition, alsocancelled his visit. The Army chief will remain in the national capital fornow.Ahead of the move to scrap Article 370, which provided special status toJammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government hadordered movement of around 100 companies of paramilitary forces from other partsof the country to the Valley.

The announcement on Article 370 was made in Parliament byHome Minister Amit Shah amid uproar by opposition parties. Reacting to thedevelopment, senior Congress leader and former J&K chief minister GhulamNabi Azad alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had “murdered the Constitution”.

Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)supremo Mehbooba Mufti also attacked the Centre over the issue, warning of“catastrophic consequences” for the Indian sub-continent.Taking to Twitter, shesaid, “Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy. Decision of J&Kleadership to reject 2 nation theory in 1947 & align with India hasbackfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal &unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K.”

“It will have catastrophic consequences for thesubcontinent. GOIs intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K byterrorising it’s people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises.”

Shah, however, justified the decision saying Article 370 hadled to alienation of Jammu and Kashmir and the government’s move will ensurethat the region becomes a part of India in true sense.