J&K: Army to vacate schools, hospitals by November

The army in Jammu and Kashmir will vacate schools and hospital buildings under its use in the state by the end of November.

A high level review meeting held by the Defence Minister A K Antony in Srinagar on Saturday also decided to revise the rentals of civilian properties and orchards, recommendations in respect of which would be submitted by the state government within 15 days.

Chairing the meeting attended by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Chief Secretary C Phunsog, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, Special Secretary (Home Ministry) M L Kumawat, Joint Secretary Mitali Sen, GoCs 15 th and 16th Corps Lt Gen A S Sekhon and Lt Gen Tej Sapru and senior officers of paramilitary forces, Intelligence Bureau, special bureau and civil administration, Antony stated that 72 government facilities had already been vacated by the security forces in the state till the end of October.

The defence minister on Saturday for an assessment of the security situation in the state.

He later attended the silver jubilee functions of the Jawahar mountaineering institute in the south Kashmir tourist resort of Pahalgam.

The meeting was informed that by November 30, the security forces would vacate all the school and hospital buildings, besides Kokernag tourist resort and Nigeen Club, presently occupied by them in the Valley.

The security and human rights situation was also reviewed during the meeting.

Senior officers of army, security forces, police and intelligence agencies gave their assessment of the security scenario.

They assured the defence minister and the chief minister that strict instructions have been passed on to all levels for maintaining human rights and said that erring officials were dealt with according to the law.