CRPF in J-K to be reviewed , PC says only secondary role

Sumir Kaul

Srinagar, Jun 11 (PTI) A high-level meeting on Thursday
decided to review the deployment of CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir
with Indian Union Home Minister P Chidambaram saying the
Centre would like the paramilitary forces to play only a
secondary role in the border state.

A decision to soon launch an exercise with the aim of
seeing the J and K police don a primary role and gradually
replace the CRPF was taken at the Unified Headquarters meeting
attended by Chidambaram who said, "We would like to take
small, baby steps one by one and no great leap in Kashmir."
The meeting was presided by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The issue of reorganisation and reorientation of Central
paramilitary forces especially CRPF in the militancy-hit
border state and gradually handing over their duties of
guarding vital installations and protecting VIPs to the state
police came up for discussion at the crucial meeting.

Chidamabaram said whatever was being planned cannot be
done overnight and the issue will be reviewed after six weeks.

The state police should play a primary role in the state
while the paramilitary forces should don a secondary role, he
said.

Chidambaram's remarks were in line with the promise made
by the Chief Minister after assuming office that the
paramilitary forces should have a lesser role in the state.

The gradual reduction of paramilitary forces especially
the CRPF from the state was very much required as the Centre
needed them in Naxal-affected states, official sources said.

Chidambaram, who arrived here Thursday morning on a
two-day visit to the state, made an on-the-spot assessment of
security situation which comes in the backdrop of the tension
over alleged rape and murder of two young women in Shopian. It
is his first visit to J and K in UPA government's second term.

A view was aired during the meeting that since CRPF has
been deployed in the state since 1990 it was high time that a
proper study was conducted to evaluate their role.

The Unified Headquarters headed by the Chief Minister
comprises all senior officials of police, army, Central
paramilitary forces, state government and intelligence
agencies
operating in the state.

Addressing the meeting, Omar Abdullah said he was
grateful to Central paramilitary forces and police for
countering insurgency, but cautioned that utmost care should
be taken in ensuring there were no human rights violation in
the process.

Omar said one mistake by police or paramilitary forces
could be exploited by international elements.

Army in its presentation said it has a three-tier
structure in place to counter insurgency and infiltration from
across the Line of Control and International Border.

The Army claimed that all the militants who have managed
to sneak in from across the LoC have been neutralised.

During the meeting a need was also felt for engaging
"certain elements" for talks in the state.

Before coming to the meeting, Chidambaram had a one on
one meeting with Omar Abdullah in which he discussed security
issues and progress of development projects in the state.

The Home Minister, who heads a team of senior officials,
will take stock of reports of infiltration that has taken
place in the state from army officials, including the
top-brass of Srinagar-based 15 Corps.

According to a state government report, nearly 200
militants have managed to infiltrate in the recent past.

Security arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra,
which is scheduled to begin on June 15, also figured in the
Home Minister's discussions with the state government.

Chidambaram's visit to the state comes after a
three-day tour by Special Secretary (Internal Security) Raman
Srivastava during which he met senior officials of the state
government, the army, the Central para-military forces and the
Amarnath Shrine Board.

According to Home Ministry sources, Srivastava has given
inputs to Chidambaram about the infiltration problem.

The valley witnessed week-long protests over the alleged
rape and murder of two women in Shopian, 52 km from here.
Violence broke out in the valley after the bodies of Asiya
(17) and her sister-in-law Nelofar (22) were recovered on May
30 after they went missing from an orchard.

The state government has ordered a judicial inquiry
into the matter and registered a case of rape and murder. PTI
SKL
SRU
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