Srinagar, Nov 3: The Special Director General of paramilitary CRPF, Aniruddh Uppal, Wednesday assured that the paramilitary force would cooperate with the investigation ordered by the state government into the killings of youth during the ongoing unrest.
 “Certainly we will cooperate,” he told reporters while responding to a query whether the force would cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry ordered by state government in 17 out of the 111 killings during the past four months.
 He was speaking to reporters after a passing-out parade at Humhama in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
 About the cases registered against CRPF by police during the prevailing unrest, he said, “Truth will come out as police is investigating the complaints.”
 “We are aware that some cases have been registered against the force on the complaints of people. The police are investigating the matter and it would not be right to comment over it this time,” he said when asked whether CRPF had ordered any internal inquiry as there are 19 FIRs registered, mostly against CRPF, in the killings.
 Linking reduction of CRPF troopers with improvement of situation in the Valley, he said that he had no information about additional deployment of forces over the past four months.
 “I don’t know anything about it and there were some readjustments. If situation improves, then there will be reduction in troops naturally,” he said.
 More than 55 battalions of CRPF are deployed in the Valley and 24 companies including three of specialized riot-control Rapid Action Force were brought in to control the situation this summer.
 Expressing optimism over the improvement of situation, he said that situation was returning back to normalcy. “During past week the situation overall improved and we are hopeful that it will get better in next few days,” he said, adding that maintenance of law and order was tough job during past four months.
 “We are ready to face any situation and are in constant touch with state police to tackle law and order situation and militancy as well. All the arrangements have been done and we cannot divulge this,” he said when asked if there were elaborate arrangements ahead of US President Barack Obama’s India visit.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 4 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST