India to cut 25pc security forces from Kashmir

New Delhi, Jan 14: Seeking peace in the troubled Valley, Indian government is planning to cut the number of security forces by 25 percentage in coming 12 months. The decision will be implemented after getting the recommendations from interlocutors, who were appointed to suggest the ways to bring sustained peace in the state.

Union home Secretary GK Pillai said on Friday, Jan 14, that government is considering to reduce the number of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir and to lift many bunkers in Srinagar.

"There will be a 25 per cent reduction of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, especially from populated areas," Pillai said while attending a symposium on the 'Way forward in Kashmir' organised by the Jamia Millia Islamia University.

"We have already reduced forces from Srinagar as in populated areas security forces should be minimum. The local police should be able to handle the situation there, that's one of our confidence building measure. We should make sure that all forces are only at the border, preventing infiltration," he added.

Kashmir has been witnessing unrest since last three months which resulted in the death of more than 100 protestors. In wake of Separatist's demand for a separate independent state, government appointed interlocutors, Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and MM Ansari, to find a solution to end protests in Kashmir.

OneIndia News