Home minister Amit Shah tells Rajya Sabha situation fully normal in Jammu and Kashmir

Home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the situation is “fully normal” in Jammu and Kashmir and a decision on lifting the internet curbs in the valley will be taken soon.  Shah told Parliament that not a single person has died due to police firing since August 5 when the Centre nullified Article 370 of the Constitution, which conferred special status on Jammu and Kashmir.

“People in this house were predicting bloodshed but I am happy to inform that no one has died in police firing. Incidents of stone pelting have declined from 802 last year to 544 so far this year,” he said. 

On Tuesday, the home ministry had told Parliament that 765 people in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5 for their alleged involvement in stone-pelting incidents.  Replying to a question by senior Ghulam Nabi Azad on when internet services will be restored, the home minister said the local administration will take a call on it.  

“There are activities by Pakistan too in Kashmir region, so keeping security in mind, whenever the local authority deems it fit, a decision will be taken [on resuming internet services],” Shah told Rajya Sabha.