Srinagar, August 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Authorities on Wednesday suspended the movement of Shri Amarnath Yatra pilgrims as a precautionary security measure on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.
Official sources said the movement of Yatris towards the Kashmir Valley was temporarily halted, and no convoy carrying pilgrims returning after completing the pilgrimage was allowed to proceed towards Jammu during the day.
However, pilgrims stationed at the Baltal base camp in north Kashmir were permitted to continue their journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.
The temporary suspension forms part of enhanced security arrangements put in place to maintain law and order on the anniversary of the Centre’s decision on August 5, 2019, to revoke the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, reorganise it into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and create the separate Union Territory of Ladakh.
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced district-level peaceful protests across Jammu and Kashmir to mark the occasion, demanding the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, along with the release of political prisoners.
In response, authorities tightened security across the Union Territory, imposed movement restrictions in sensitive areas and denied permission for the proposed demonstrations, citing law and order concerns.
Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed around the PDP headquarters and other sensitive locations.
According to reports, several senior PDP leaders, including former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and party president Mehbooba Mufti, were confined to prevent their participation in the proposed protests.
Apart from district-level demonstrations, the PDP also called for a symbolic 15-minute blackout as part of its protest programme.
The party’s campaign focuses on the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, differing from the ruling National Conference, which has primarily sought the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
On August 5, 2019, the Government of India revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and reorganised the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
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