Srinagar: In a move which may be welcomed by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that paramiltitary forces will have a secondary role in maintaining law and order in the state. Primary control will wrest with the state police force.
The announcement comes at a time when there has been outrage in the state over the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian in the state, possibly at the hands of security forces.
Chidambaram is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and chaired a meeting of the unified command on Thursday, which oversees security in the state.
Abdullah has, for long, wanted the Centre to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the state gives security forces special powers. The powers which have been misused in several instances.
Chidambaram, who arrived in Srinagar on Thursday morning, is making an on-the-spot assessment of security situation in the state.
He is chairing the Unified Command meet in Srinagar, where he is expected to address the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
The J&K CM had long being wanting the removal of this in Kashmir. Sources say a policy decision on this can be expected soon.
The Home Minister is also likely to discuss the presence of the number of troops in the Valley.
Chidambaram, who is on his first visit to the state after taking over as the Home Minister, will take stock of reports of infiltration that has taken place in the state from the army officials, including the top-brass of Srinagar-based 15 Corps.