By Sameer Ahmad
Srinagar (NVI): In a major development, 14 companies of central paramilitary forces have been withdrawn from Kashmir, with the authorities initiating a process of sending back the additional troops rushed to the Valley five months back in connection with the Centre’s decision to abolish the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to police sources, 14 companies of CRPF, BSF and SSB have been withdrawn from Kashmir Valley and the process is on to withdraw more additional forces.
Each company of a paramilitary force comprises around 100 personnel.
On July 25, the Union Home Ministry had rushed 100 companies (approximately 10,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces to Kashmir valley. Those included 50 from CRPF, 30 from SSB, 10 from BSF and 10 from ITBP.
The urgency of the move was reflected in the Home Ministry’s order which had said that out of 50 companies of CRPF, 9 companies should be pulled out from their deployment for Parliament security during the ongoing session and the Kanwar yatra in Delhi.
The rushing of such a large number of additional forces to Kashmir had triggered panic and curiosity about what was going to happen in the Valley.
While the state administration insisted that the additional deployment was being made in view of intelligence inputs about a major terror strike, the actual purpose became clear when restrictions were imposed in the Valley on the night of August 4/5, on the eve of the Centre’s move to abolish special status of J&K granted under Article 370.
Through a legislative process, the Centre also converted the state of J&K into a Union Territory and created a separate Union Territory of Ladakh.
