Centre mulls fortifying LoC, may cut troop strength in interiors

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 4

The presence of Army in the interiors of the state is likely to be reduced with the Centre considering to pull out soldiers from the hinterland and deploy them along the 744-km-long Line of Control to plug the openings.

Some of the reserves, however, will stay put to meet contingencies, sources said.

“The Union Government has a plan up its sleeves to reduce the presence of troops in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir. These troops will, however, not be going out of the state. They will be deployed on the LoC to plug the gaps,” said a top Defence Ministry source.

Sources said there were more than 100 such gaps along the LoC under the jurisdiction of the 15 and 16 Corps.

“These gaps have been deliberately kept open to bring the ultras into the killing zone of the Army. But, in case the Centre decides to reduce the presence of troops in the state, they will be deployed on the LoC to further strengthen the multi-tier anti-infiltration obstacle system,” the source said.

The foot patrols and ambush parties of the Army will be strengthened with more men, the source said, adding that some of the reserves will stay put to meet unforeseen events.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remained the bone of contention between the PDP and the BJP before the two parties mellowed down to form a coalition government in the state.

The PDP-BJP “Agenda for Alliance” released on Monday stated: “The situation in the state has improved vastly and to build greater public confidence in its sustainability, people of the state must be able to get the peace and normalcy dividend.”

“In this context, the coalition government will thoroughly review the security situation with a view to examine need and desirability of all special laws being applied to the state in view of the situation, which is improving.”

“While both the parties have historically held a different view on the AFSPA and the need for it in the state at present, the coalition government will examine the need for de-notifying the Disturbed Areas Act. This, as a consequence, will enable the Union Government to take a final view on the continuation of the AFSPA in these areas,” it added.

Sources said the plan to reduce the presence of Army in the interiors of the state could be the first exercise before taking a call on the AFSPA.

In 2012, the then UPA government had conceded request of the former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to reduce the footprints of security forces in the restive state.

Quote:

The Union Government has a plan up its sleeves to reduce the presence of troops in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir. These troops will, however, not be going out of the state. They will be deployed on the LoC to plug the gaps --- Defence Ministry source

‘Step towards AFSPA revocation’

• The Armed Forces Special Powers Act had remained the bone of contention between the PDP and the BJP before the two parties mellowed down to form a coalition government in the state

• While both the parties have historically held a different view on the AFSPA and the need for it in the state at present, the coalition government will examine the need for de-notifying the Disturbed Areas Act. This, as a consequence, will enable the Union Government to take a final view on the continuation of the AFSPA in these areas, read the PDP-BJP ‘Agenda for Alliance’

• Sources said the plan to reduce the presence of Army in the interiors of the state could be the first exercise before taking a call on the AFSPA