Troop reduction will continue, says Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has said that 35,000 troops have already been withdrawn from the state as part of the gradual troop reduction even though he admitted cross border infiltration had picked up in recent months.

Omar said that 'with the gradual restoration of peace and tranquillity,the footprints of security forces in the state would lessen allowing the Jammu and Kashmir police to deal with law and order.'

"Without creating any hype we have reduced 35, 000 army personnel and also decreased the number of Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force personnel from their internal security duties", the chief minister said while addressing the state assembly.

"The process will continue in accordance with the prevalence of peace. The atmosphere is more or less better currently as compared to the past," Abdullah said.However, the increase in infiltration attempts during the year 2009 have affected the security scenario in early 2010, he said and added 'this aspect is being taken care of'.

While commenting on the rapidly increasing stone pelting incidents Omar said that 'the elders of various areas have given undertaking to the police about those arrested for the offence and the government is considering their release.'

He expressed 'astonishment over the behaviour and approach' of the Peoples' Democratic Party vis-à-vis the stone-pelters, saying that Syed Ali Shah Gelani and Mufti Azam Kashmir, both have condemned the practice, but the PDP was trying to defend the stone-pelters.