Srinagar:
It's finally a level playing field in Kashmir, after the strife-torn state's only indoor stadium was returned to its rightful users on Tuesday.
The stadium had been a CRPF base camp for the past 20 years. As the jawans marched out, players rushed in to stake their claim.
"We appreciate that it has been vacated by the CRPF. It will help to develop sports here," said martial arts coach Mohammad Iqbal.
The withdrawal of the CRPF troops is part of the state government's phased withdrawal of security forces from civilian areas. Over the past year, 3,000 CRPF jawans have been withdrawn from Srinagar. Another 25,000 are still here.
"Vacating private and government buildings shows our confidence not only in the situation that prevails, but also in its handling by security forces and police together," says Inspector General of Police Farooq Ahmad.
At a time when incidents of militant violence are on the rise, the government's gradual thinning out of troops is debatable. Exactly what gives it enough confidence to see this withdrawal through remains a question.