Omar Abdullah meets Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in the capital Wednesday, days after the central government announced a 25 percent reduction in security forces in the troubled state.

Abdullah also raised the issue of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rally to Srinagar and national flag hoisting Jan 26 there, officials said.

The two leaders also discussed reports submitted by government-appointed interlocutors for initiation of the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir.

Home Secretary G.K. Pillai had Friday said the state would see a 25 percent reduction in security forces, especially from populated areas, and more bunkers would be lifted from Srinagar.

The central government had appointed the interlocutors - journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and economist M.M. Ansari - in the wake of street protests in Kashmir and police action in which over 100 protesters were killed in summer last year.