Chindambaram Wants Secondary Role of Paramilitary Forces in J&K

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that the centre would like the secondary role of the paramilitary forces in the trouble Kashmir valley as a high level meeting decides to review the deployment of CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the Unified Headquarters meeting attended by Chidamabaram, a decision to launch an excercise of J and K police donning the primary role while gradually replacing the CRPF was taken.The meeting was presided by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

“we would like to take small, baby steps one by one and no great leap in Kashmir.” Chidambaram said.

The issue of reorganisation and reorientation of Central Paramilitary forces especially CRPF in the militancy-hit border state and gradually handing over their duties of guarding vital installations and protecting VIPs to the state police came up for discussion at the crucial meeeting.

Chidamabaram said that whatever was being planned cannot be done overnight and the issue will be reviewed after six weeks.

The state police should play a primary role in the state while the paramilitary forces should don a secondary role, he said.

Chidambaram’s remarks were in line with the promise made by the chief minister after assuming office that the paramilitary forces should have a lesser role in the state.

The gradual reduction of paramilitary forces especially the CRPF from the state was very much required as the Centre needed them in Naxal affected states, official sources said.