Centre asks Omar to go soft on withdrawal of security forces

The Centre has asked Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to tone down his rhetoric against security forces deployed in the state for anti-insurgency operations, since it could whip sentiments and help revival of militancy.

Abdullah was conveyed this by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself. He was asked to tread cautiously in dealing with the delicate situation in the state and avoid an emotional approach. Abdullah, who leads the six-month-old Congress-National Conference alliance government, had met the prime minister here on Monday for about 45 minutes.

The chief minister’s advocacy of shifting the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from security duties in the state, after some recent incidents, have not gone well with the Centre. The CRPF had complained to the Ministry of Home Affairs that their jawans were suffering from low morale due to increased mob attacks on them in the Kashmir region.

The CRPF top brass had apparently linked the increased targeting of the force personnel with the populist demand by Kashmiri leaders on banishing the force from the state.

Abdullah also met Home Minister P Chidambaram, who had publicly expressed his worry on the situation in Kashmir. The presence of National Security Advisor M K Narayanan in both the meetings was significant.

Though Abdullah’s spokesman said the chief minister had discussed a plethora of issues, including the developmental projects and the state’s annual plan, with the prime minister, sources said the worsening security situation in the border state was the main issue.

Abdullah was told that shifting of CRPF personnel at this stage was not feasible since the state police were not equipped enough to maintain the tempo of the anti-insurgency operation and providing overall security. The state police have only 25 battalions, as against 70-odd CRPF battalions, which are currently assisting them in maintaining law and order.