Centre Sends 10K Troops For Counter Terror Ops In Kashmir

New Delhi: The centre is sending 10,000 paramilitary troops to Jammu and Kashmir in a massive security build-up to strengthen anti-terrorist operations in the state.

The Union Home Ministry said the additional forces were being deployed to strengthen “counter insurgent grid” as well as maintaining law and order in Kashmir, NDTV reported on Saturday.

The decision to send the troops came after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval returned from a two-day visit to Kashmir valley. Sources said Doval met senior officers and reviewed the law and order situation in the state that’s still under the President’s rule.

Sources said the troops were being airlifted from various parts of the country to J&K.

In Srinagar, J&K Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said they had requisitioned for these troops for deployment in north Kashmir.

“There are fewer troops in north Kashmir and that’s why we need additional forces. 100 companies have been airlifted and that’s what we had asked for,” the DGP told news agency PTI.

He added that any other motive attributed to the troop induction was only speculation.

Recently, around 40,000 additional central paramilitary forces were brought in for Amarnath Yatra security.

On February 24, around 100 companies of central paramilitary forces were airlifted and deployed in the valley. The government had said the troops were deployed for the Lok Sabha election held in April and May. It was followed by a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and a major crackdown on its leaders and supporters in the state.