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| 15 more police battalions needed if troops reduced | | | Jammu,July 7
The state Government, especially the top police and intelligence agency functionaries,have conveyed to the Defence Secretary,Mr Shekhar Dutt,that the police could take the responsibility of carrying out anti insurgency operations in all the major towns of Kashmir valley if the strength of the Armed police was increased and at least 19 additional companies of paramilitary forces were sent to the state.
Mr Dutt,while reviewing the latest security scenario in a meeting with senior officers of the Army,paramilitary forces,police and intelligence agencies,on Thursday and Friday,in the context of the PDP demand for withdrawal of troops from within the civilian areas was told that additional manpower was required to facilitate reallocation of troops.During the meetings Mr Dutt ,who heads one of the committees constituted by Prime Minister,Dr Manmohan Singh,was accompanied besides others by special secretary Union Home Ministry.The Defence secretary visited forward areas in Poonch,Kupwara and Baramulla where he discussed the situation with the field commanders of the Army and officers of other security agencies.
A senior police officer of the rank of DIG said today “the police has been engaged in counter insurgency operations in Srinagar and Budgam districts with the collaboration of CRPF personnel.The security scenario in these two districts is better than the remaining eight districts of the valley.”Asked how many additional police battalions needed to be raised for replacing the troops the police officer said “atleast 15 battalions of Armed police needed to be raised and with the logistic support of CRPF we can take on militants in remaining seven major towns in Kashmir .”
Official sources said that Mr Dutt has asked the police authorities in Srinagar to submit a report listing the requirement they needed in terms of manpower and equipment.These sources said that Mr Dutt was informed that though the security situation had witnessed marked improvement the time was not yet ripe for withdrawing troops from remote areas of the state.The state Government is said to have expressed its fears that militants may get a chance to reestablish their bases,as was the case in 2000 when the order on non initiation of combat operations had come into force..According to the police,during the non initiation of combat operations militants had managed to carve out hideouts and bases even in Srinagar city and other major towns.
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