The Omar Abdullah government on Wednesday effectively handed over the control of Srinagar city to Jammu and Kashmir police and asked it to move to the frontline positions, reversing the hitherto domination of army and paramilitary forces in the city.
There were several allegations of military excess and human rights violation against the 14,000-strong CRPF contingent controlling Srinagar city.
An official spokesman said Abdullah “issued instructions to deploy Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel in the forefront at all public places in the Srinagar city.” The order seemed to have come after allegations that the CRPF used unnecessary force during an anti-Israel rally at Saraf Kadal in Srinagar last Friday.
CFPR first took charge of the city in 1990 and in 1992, the control was handed over to combined force of the army and the BSF. In 2005, the CRPF and state police were handed back the control of the city.
With this decision, Abdullah seemed to be sending a message that he wants to adopt a softer approach to public protests.