By News Agency of Kashmir
Udhampur : General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lieutenant
General H S Panag, today rule-out any troop reduction in Jammu and
Kashmir and said that the total deployment of Army in the state was
three lakh thirty three thousand out of which about eighty thousand
was assigned the job of counter terrorism while rest of them are
placed at other positions.
According to sources, Jammu and Kashmir has world's largest strength
of army deployment and political parties of the state have been
demanding troop reduction.
In a media interaction on the eve of 36th raising day of Udhampur
based army's northern command, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Lieutenant General HS Panag, said "there was no question of
demilitarization in the state as there was marginal increase in the
infiltration as compared to last year", adding, however peace will
prevail in the region and efforts were on to control militant's
activities in the state.
He said the army deployed at LoC for stopping the infiltration as the
52 militant training camps are still operating in other side, adding
the mind set of the militant organizations was not yet changed.
He added the total deployment of Army in the state was three lakh
thirty seven thousand (3, 37,000). "Out of which eighty thousand
(80,000) about twenty five percent (25%) of total deployment was
assigned the job of counter terrorism while rest of them are placed at
other positions including LoC" Panag added.
He said, as per the data received from various agencies have revealed
that about 1,140 Militants are active at present in Jammu and Kashmir.
Replying to a question about surrender policy with regard to those who
are waiting at other side of the border, he said that the credentials
of those militants were not known and army sources are in touch with
them. He said it was state government who has made a special surrender policy for such militants.
Rejecting the possibility of Al-Qaeda in Jammu and Kashmir, Panag said
there was no report of Al-Qaeda presence in the state. "Army has no
report of Al-Qaeda presence in Jammu and Kashmir" General Officer
Commanding-in-Chief Lieutenant General HS Panag said adding that much hyped CD delivered to some media houses in Srinagar was being
investigated by the Union Home ministry and other agencies.