The Army has finally taken a decision to completely relocate its troops from Srinagar’s Tattoo Ground. Covering an expansive area of 139 acres, this historic ground will soon be thrown open for tourist activities. This decision comes after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs through the J&K administration. The signing ceremony, presided over by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan. The MoU stipulates that the Ministry of Defence will hand over the land to the Ministry of Home Affairs within 120 days.
The LG Sinha, acknowledging the cooperation of the Indian Army in this decision, emphasized the importance of the development. The relocation of the troops from Tattoo Ground is part of the administration’s well-meaning effort to reduce the Army’s footprint in Srinagar. Over the years, the Tattoo Ground has been a site of several confrontations between militants and security personnel, leading to loss of lives and violence. Former J&K Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed had previously set a deadline for troop withdrawal from the area in 2015, but the move did not materialize at that time.
With the ground set to become a tourist destination, the place is expected to see a surge in footfall and economic activity. By opening up the ground for public, the government is sending a message of peace and progress in the union territory, aiming to dispel any negative perceptions associated with the union territory.
The move which couldn’t be accomplished in the past despite the efforts by the successive governments underlines the shift in the Valley’s situation over the past four years. It also reflects the drastic decline in the violence giving the governments, both at the centre and in J&K, the confidence to thin out troops even in Srinagar.
Early this year, there were reports that the centre is reportedly planning withdrawal of army from the Kashmir Valley in a fresh sign that the situation in the province is returning to normal after decades. The withdrawal, the reports added, will be done in a phased manner. The administration is expected to start with districts where militancy has ended. The CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police will fill in the space vacated by the Army. Although, no such decision has since been formally announced, even the central and the UT governments thinking in terms of reducing the footprint of Army reflects the grip on the situation the authorities have gained since the withdrawal of Article 370 in August 2019.
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