SRINAGAR - The moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday welcomed the central government's announcement of a 25 percent cut in security forces in a year's time in Jammu and Kashmir, while hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani rejected the move as "patchwork" and demanded complete withdrawal of troops from the state.

NEW DELHI - A quarter of the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir will be cut in the next 12 months, Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said Friday in what was seen as a major confidence-building measure towards the people of the conflict-scarred state as well as Pakistan. The Indian Army, however, ruled out any reductions in the number of military personnel.

NEW DELHI - The Indian Army Friday said it was going through a transformation to emerge as a lethal, agile and networked force capable of meeting challenges on both the western and eastern fronts with Pakistan and China.

GURGAON - A local court here on Friday sent Shivraj Puri, the main accused in the alleged Rs 400 crore Citibank fraud, into judicial remand till January 28.

NEW DELHI - India has rushed relief material for the displaced and affected persons in Sri Lanka, where destruction due to heavy floods has claimed the lives of around 27 persons.