BSF to reduce its presence in J & K

Agartala, Mar 31: The Border Security Force has decided to gradually reduce its presence in Jammu and Kashmir from the end of this year with the Central Reserve Police Force taking up their position.

Talking to reporters here last night on his maiden visit to Tripura, BSF Director General Ashis Kumar Mitra, however, said 28 of the 40 battalions now deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, would remain in the state for guarding the border with Pakistan.

Mr Mitra said the Home Ministry had already taken a decision to replace BSF with the CRPF.

''But the CRPF says it will take some more time to send the reserve policemen to J and K to take over from us,'' he said.

The BSF Director General admitted that the counter-insurgency assignment in Jammu and Kashmir had prevented the force from strengthening vigilance along the country's border with Bangladesh.

''With the pulling out of some battalions from the J&K, we will able to further strengthen our vigilance along the country's border with Bangladesh, particularly in checking infiltration from across the border,'' Mr Mitra added.

UNI