Centre starts de-induction of addl forces
Sanjeev Pargal/
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 11: The Central Government has started de-induction of additional troops deployed in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in July-August before scrapping of special Constitutional provisions of the erstwhile State and its bifurcation into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh by withdrawing 51 companies from the Valley and sounding the administration in Jammu region to be ready for withdrawal of troops shortly.
The decision taken by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs came following improvement in the situation across the Union Territory and requirement of the troops in North East to deal with law and order problem in the wake of Parliament nod to Citizenship Amendment Bill.
As the situation improved in the Valley and there was apprehension of law and order problem in North East due to Citizenship Amendment Bill, 34 companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) and 5 companies of Central Reserve Police Force have been moved out of Kashmir in recent days.
Twelve more companies of the CRPF will move out of Kashmir tomorrow.
The decision on withdrawal of these troops was taken in a review meeting that was held in New Delhi recently. There was apprehension of large scale violence in Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370, but the situation by-and-large remained peaceful in the last four months and it was felt that some of these troops should be moved out. These troops were also needed in North East to tackle law and order problem.
Sources told the Excelsior that the administration in Jammu region has also been sounded about de-induction of additional paramilitary forces deployed in July-August and the process was expected to start soon.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs was likely to start process of de-induction of additional troops in Jammu region from Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts. However, additional paramilitary forces were expected to stay in Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts for some more time,’’ they said.
Over 600 companies of additional paramilitary forces were rushed to Jammu and Kashmir in July-August this year ahead of the Central Government’s decision of scrapping special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Situation post August 5 decisions of the Centre on Jammu and Kashmir remained completely peaceful in Jammu region where restrictions imposed initially as precautionary measure were lifted within a week.
According to sources, good number of additional para-military forces across Jammu and Kashmir were expected to stay for some more time to help in the anti-militancy operations during the winter.
The deployment of troops on roads across the Valley has been minimized especially in those areas which have remained peaceful during last four months. In the last four-months, the security forces didn’t face any huge challenge to deal with protesters like they did during 2016 unrest when around 100 people were killed and thousands were injured.
With additional troops government was able to prevent any major law and order problem in Kashmir in last four months. Besides stone pelters, Over Ground Workers of militants and separatist leaders, most of the mainstream political leaders, including three former Chief Ministers, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, were also taken into custody to ensure no mobilization of people occurs in protest against scrapping Article 370.
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