Centre wants army to act as ‘deterrent’ in Kashmir

The Centre decided on Wednesday that the army would be deployed only on the “periphery”, not in congested areas of Kashmir but favoured “maximum crackdown” on those who have contributed to the deterioration of law and order.

The Centre had decided to send in the army late on Tuesday after Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah phoned home minister P Chidambaram, seeking help to restore peace.

The cabinet committee on security (CCS) met on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in Kashmir. the committee was chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh and had defence minister AK Antony, national security advisor Shivshankar Menon, home minister P Chidambaram and home secretary GK Pillai.

Though CCS has left it to the state government to decide where to place the army, it felt there should be “maximum crackdown” on miscreants. Home secretary Pillai is in Srinagar to review the situation and will report to the prime minister on Thursday.
Minister of state for defence MM Pallam Raju said after the CCS meet, “The army would remain on the streets of Srinagar till it is necessary, but the government would like its stay to be short. The army steps in only when things go out of control... It is not a situation the army would like to be in.”