Govt considering 25% troop reduction in Kashmir, says GK Pillai

Jammu and Kashmir would see a 25% reduction in security forces and more bunkers would be lifted from Srinagar, home secretary GK Pillai said. The home secretary said the interlocutors have been asked to give their final set of proposals for a political solution by April.

Jammu and Kashmir would see a 25% reduction in security forces and more bunkers would be lifted from Srinagar, home secretary GK Pillai said on Friday.

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"There will be a 25% reduction of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, especially from populated areas," Pillai said at a symposium on the 'Way forward in Kashmir' organised by the Jamia Millia Islamia University here.

More bunkers will be lifted from Srinagar, he added.

The home secretary said the three interlocutors appointed by the central government have been asked to give their final set of proposals for a political solution by April.

The central government had appointed the interlocutors - journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and economist M M Ansari - in the wake of street protests in Kashmir and police action in which over 100 protesters were killed in the summer of 2010. The interlocutors were tasked with suggesting ways of bringing about sustained peace in the state.