No need to cut down troops in Kashmir: Gen Singh

NEW DELHI - Countering the statement made by Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai on 25 per cent reduction in security forces’ strength in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General V.K. Singh on Friday said that there is no need to lower the number of troops in the state.

Speaking ahead of the 62nd Army Day here, General Singh said: “We have deployed our troops keeping in view the threat on the border or the Line of Control. Similarly in the inner areas, to maintain peace and to conduct anti-terrorist operations, we require some strength of the army.”

“We have not yet felt that we have to cut down our forces. If they want to reduce paramilitary forces or the police, I cannot say any thing about that,” he added, while responding to a question on Home Secretary Pillai’s statement.

General Singh on his part, however, clarified that security forces comprised paramilitary and local police, along with the army.

Earlier today, Pillai said the Central Government is contemplating reducing the strength of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir by 25 per cent.

Addressing a symposium on the ‘Way Forward in Kashmir’ organised by the Jamia Millia Islamia University here, Pillai said: Government of India is hopeful that troops in Jammu and Kashmir might come down by 25 per cent in the next 12 months.”

“We have already reduced forces from Srinagar as the presence of security forces should be minimum in populated areas. The local police should be able to handle the situation there. We should make sure that all the forces are positioned only at the border, preventing infiltration,” he added. By Praful Kumar Singh(ANI)