As Jammu and Kashmir marks the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, fresh rumours about a possible further division of the Union Territory are stirring the political reactions and public anxiety.
On Monday, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah dismissed the speculations, saying he doesn’t expect anything major to happen.
“I’ve heard every possible theory about what might happen in J&K tomorrow. Let me stick my neck out and say—nothing will happen. Fortunately, nothing bad will happen, but unfortunately, nothing good either,” Omar said in a post on X.
He added, “I’m still hopeful something positive might happen for J&K in this monsoon session of Parliament—but not tomorrow. And no, I haven’t had any meetings or talks with anyone in Delhi. This is just my gut feeling.”
Meanwhile, Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, struck a more cautious tone. “For a week now, hushed whispers suggest something drastic is in the offing—insinuations dressed in metaphors and dark humour,” she said.
Former CM Mehbooba Mufti, without directly addressing the latest rumours, posted a reminder of the events of August 2019.
“August 4, 2019, we were silenced. On August 5, our voice, our rights, our Constitution were taken without our consent. What was ours by birth and belonging was stripped away overnight,” she wrote. “Not a whisper of warning. Not a shred of justice. Today, we remember. We resist.”
Amid these political statements, the Jammu and Kashmir Police held a high-level security meeting led by DGP Nalin Prabhat to review the current situation. According to a police spokesperson, senior officers shared updates on security and intelligence. The DGP instructed them to increase vigilance against anti-national activities, monitor social media closely, and strengthen security around sensitive areas.
Lt General (Retd) K.J.S. Dhillon, who led the 15 Corps during the 2019 abrogation, also weighed in. “Peace in Kashmir has come at a great cost—of soldiers and innocent civilians. It’s still fragile, as the recent Pahalgam attack showed. Any decision now must not be rushed. We are still in the phase of consolidating peace,” he said on X.
While speculation suggested Jammu could become a separate state and Kashmir remain a Union Territory without a legislature, no official confirmation was given. Some political analysts and local journalists warned that any sudden move could deepen alienation among the region’s youth.
