The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reportedly put all mosques in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir under its scanner, according to an MHA order that surfaced on social media on Monday. The order directs the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of all zones in Srinagar to collect and provide details on the management and location of all the mosques in the district. However, a top government official in Jammu and Kashmir has denied any such order being issued by the Centre.

The order was accessed and it read: "Please provide details of mosques and their management falling within your respective jurisdictions as per enclosed proforma to this office immediately for onward submission to higher authorities." The letter was signed by the SSP of Srinagar district and was dated on July 28, 2019.The letter has been marked as urgent and requires details of preacher among others.

When approached to comment on the government order that puts mosques in Srinagar under the scanner, J&K Governor advisor Vijay Kumar said, "If somebody is causing panic or rumour on social media, then I should not be countering it. What is the source of this rumour? It won’t be proper for me to keep reverting every time."

The new government order has come days after it was reported that the Centre has deployed an additional 10,000 Army personnel to Jammu and Kashmir. Defence Ministry sources have suggested that the movement of troops is aimed at strengthening counter-terror operations in the Valley.