The Centre has ordered an immediate withdrawal of 10,000 paramilitary personnel from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The decision to withdraw the troops was taken after the Ministry of Home Affairs reviewed the deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the Union Territory.
As reported by sources to Zee News, A total of 40 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). 20 each of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), will be taken out from Jammu and Kashmir. The companies have been asked to revert back to their original bases.
As reported by sources to PTI, “The CRPF has been asked to make arrangements for airlifting of these units to Delhi and other locations. The units that are being withdrawn are deployed both in Jammu and Srinagar. It was felt that the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist grid is intact in the UT and these additional units that were sent in last year can be de-inducted giving them the much-required rest, recuperation and training.”
The other reason is the onset of winter, that will make it impossible to keep the troop in makeshift camps and tents.
This is one of the biggest reduction since the troops were rushed in to control the situation after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in J&K.
Post the reduction CRPF will have a strength of about 60 battalions in the Kashmir valley.