Srinagar, Oct 21: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Monday said that beginning next month, there will be a “new Kashmir” and all the youth should contribute to take it forward.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of an event on Police Commemoration Day, Malik also issued a warning to Pakistan, promising a repeat of artillery strikes “if it does not behave”.
“From 1 November, there will be a new Kashmir. I want to ask these boys who are roaming around, what have you achieved? Contribute to take the state forward,” he said.
From November 1, the state of J&K will formally be reorganised into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, a decision that was taken along with the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.
With the split will also come exhaustive changes in administrative and political setup of the regions.
“Pakistan should behave. If they don’t, we will do again what we did yesterday. We will destroy militant camps and if they don’t behave, we will go there and destroy,” Governor Malik said.
On Sunday, the army conducted artillery strikes on what it claimed were “terror launch pads” in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and said it killed five to six soldiers and similar number of militants in the region.
“It was retaliation against Pakistan’s attempt to push in militants into India,” Army chief General Bipin Rawat said.
To prevent backlashes, Jammu and Kashmir was placed under a series of preventive measures after the decision to end its special powers and bifurcate it into two union territories was announced in August. Some of these measures – like the removal of internet service on cellphones – still remain in place in the politically sensitive Kashmir.
The political leaders too are still under detention though the local administration has announced that they will be released after individual evaluation. The Governor had earlier said the detentions have ensured peace in Kashmir.
He had also explained the ban on mobile phone internet, saying it was the “militants’ medium” for communication and “indoctrination” of the young people in the valley.
