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| Army "contradicts" Omar's statement | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 29: Chief minister Omar Abdullah is probably going to land in trouble in the state legislative assembly, which is in session, as army today sought to "contradict" his announcement as regards the gradual withdrawal of 35,000 troops from the militancy-infested state. Omar had told the assembly last week that 35,000 troops were withdrawn, their camps closed and they were sent out of the state after NC-Congress coalition came to power.
However, Brigadier General Staff (BGS), 16 Corps, Brig Gurdeep Singh told reporters in reply to a question in a press conference that army personnel were only relocated as per security demands and that there was no major pullout. Opposition could grill Omar in the assembly in the light of BGS's assertion, which almost disputed his official statement. "There is no major troop pullout or withdrawal in the state. There have been redeployments and relocations of troops as per the security assessment from time to time," the army officer added. He said, "Troop relocation and redeployment is a continuous process and it is being undertaken from time to time. Troops are deployed as per security needs."
"This process is going on at certain places where police organisations must take on a share. There is no major pull out of troops," he said.
Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister P Chidambram and the state government have maintained that about 35,000 army troops were withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir over a period of one year in 2009.
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