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| India-Pakistan |
| Army deployed in Srinagar as violence spirals |
| 2010-07-08 |
| Indian Army contingents moved into the streets of Srinagar on Wednesday, as New Delhi insisted they had been called for "deterrent" purposes and only to reduce tensions. Authorities in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) also launched a major crackdown on pro-freedom leaders and activists across the state. Reports from Srinagar said 17 columns of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps had been deployed in the city alone. Soldiers in armoured and machine gun-mounted vehicles drove through various localities in Srinagar. Union Home Secretary GK Pillai and the director general of Military Operations (DGMO) rushed to Srinagar on Wednesday morning to conduct meetings with officials and army commanders. After the troubled incidents of Tuesday, the state government had requisitioned the army to help police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops in enforcing curfew in the city. However, official sources assured that the army would not be used for crowd control in Srinagar, where the situation was described as "tense but under control". Despite the army's presence, curfew was defied at several places, including Baramulla, Sopore, Pattan, Chadoora, Machua and Anantnag. |
| Posted by:Fred |