The Government on August 13 said that the restrictions are being eased out in a phased manner in the Kashmir Valley and normalcy in the Jammu division has been restored, reports Daily Excelsior. Government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said in Srinagar that “We saw disturbances in the state in 2008 & 2016 too. There were 37 deaths in 1st week of 2016, but in last one week there hasn’t been a single casualty. By imposing reasonable restrictions at least we’ve been able to save human lives.” The spokesperson informed that the restrictions are being eased out after a local assessment by relevant local authorities of different areas and localities of the Kashmir division in a phased manner.
Meanwhile, Army chief General Bipin Rawat on August 13 said that the Army wants same bonhomie with people of Kashmir, which existed in 1970s and 1980s when they used to meet the local population without guns even as he declared that the Indian troops are ready to meet any kind of security challenge in the region, reports Daily Excelsior. “In 1970s and 1980, we were deployed there (in Kashmir) and we used to meet without guns. If everything goes well, we will again meet without guns,” General Rawat said. He also said Pakistan deploying additional military resources along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir over the last few days is normal and not a matter of concern, asserting that Indian troops are prepared to deal with any security challenge in the region.