Kashmir militants face new force

Indian troops are accused of widespread abuses

The authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir are planning to set up a new force to counter Muslim rebels fighting Indian rule.

The state government forwarded a proposal for setting up such a force and it has been approved by the union home ministry

Rajan Bakshi, Additional Director General of Police

The new force will be made up of local volunteers drawn from among 22,000 special police officers, who include former rebels, and village defence committees.

The move is part of the new state government's plans to end years of conflict in Kashmir.

A mix of regular soldiers, paramilitary border troops and federal police are currently deployed alongside state police against the militants.

Training

Some 500 men will be recruited initially into the Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Force, police say.

Rajan Bakshi, additional director general of police, told reporters the new force would be an indigenous one, consisting only of Kashmiris.

He said it would be better equipped and trained than the state police in combating militancy.

Recruits will receive special commando training.

Police hope their local knowledge will be a major asset in the fight against the militants.

Counter-insurgency operations are carried out at present by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the state police.

The new state government came to power in December promising to disband the SOG, which it said had become infamous for atrocities against ordinary citizens.

"The state government forwarded a proposal for setting up such a force and it has been approved by the union home ministry," Mr Bakshi said.