Centre rushes more paramilitary forces to Kashmir

The Centre has decided to send nearly 2000 central paramilitary force personnel to violence-hit Kashmir Valley while another 3,200, currently based in the state, will be redeployed in trouble-torn areas.

The additional forces are being sent following a request from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to the Centre to help tackle the situation in the valley, which has been hit by a fresh wave of protests.

Official sources said 19 companies (1,900 personnel) of central paramilitary forces will reach Kashmir within a day or two from outside the state. As many as 32 companies (3,200 personnel) currently posted in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir will be redeployed in the trouble-torn 10 districts of the Kashmir valley.

Curfew remained in force in Kashmir valley on Tuesday following violence by rampaging mobs which indulged in stone-pelting, attacked government buildings and looted weapons from the police.

Seven persons were killed on Monday as police opened fire to disperse the mobs which defied curfew and attacked police stations and Central Reserve Police Force camps in the valley.

Twenty two people have been killed and over 500 injured, including 200 security force personnel, in violence since last Friday.

Protestors raised pro-freedom slogans at mosques on Tuesday morning. Schools, shops and business establishments were shut and security personnel restricted the movement of people.

As violence escalated in Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had chaired a meeting of the Unified Command in Srinagar on Monday and reviewed the measures in place to tackle the situation.

Omar had called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the current unrest in the valley and find an administrative and political way out.