Citing lowered violence levels, Army redeploys J-K troops

Army Chief Gen J J Singh said a brigade had been moved out from south of the Pir Panjal range and redeployed at locations in Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the North East. ‘‘Further de-induction could take place if there is improvement in the situation in the state. Additional forces shifted to the frontier region of Ladakh have also been moved back,’’ he said. The brigade, deployed in J-K during Operation Vijay, is originally part of the 27 Mountain Division in Darjeeling and Kalimpong and has been shifted back to restore the balance, the Army chief indicated.

‘‘By our new professional conduct, we have scored a better attrition rate against militants. Security forces now have the upper hand and this has given us the opportunity to re-adjust force levels. There would not be any lowering of guard. We have force levels in J-K to ensure maximum flexibility in conduct of counter insurgency operations,’’ the Army Chief said.

Last year, two brigades were moved out. Gen Singh added that force levels ‘‘could always be decreased and increased in short time, depending on the situation’’. He also said that plans to pull out another brigade could happen with further improvements in the situation.