Army in Srinagar a deterrent, says Chidambaram

Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the army was deployed in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir as a "deterrent", with the police and paramilitary forces maintaining the law and order there.

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said the army was deployed in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir as a "deterrent", with the police and paramilitary forces maintaining the law and order there.

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"The army has been kept ready. The purpose of deployment of the army was a deterrent effect. Police and paramilitary forces are maintaining the law and order," Chidambaram told reporters here.

He said the situation in the troubled Kashmir Valley was peaceful barring two "minor incidents yesterday (Wednesday)". "So far today (Thursday) I have not received any reports of any incident."

Chidambaram said the army would be deployed in Srinagar "as long as it is necessary".

"And I hope it will not be necessary for too long," he said, adding the curfew should be enforced "and observed by everybody for the next two-three days".

Many parts of the valley have been under an indefinite curfew enforced with the army's assistance following violent protests that led to three deaths in firing by security forces on Tuesday.

The minister appealed to parents in the valley not to allow their children to violate the curfew and stone security personnel.

"Our appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir is - observe the curfew, stay indoors. It is important that people don't come into the streets and start stone pelting. Parents must ensure that their children, young boys should remain indoors," he said.