Paramilitaries begin withdrawing from Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb.8 (ANI): Paramilitary troops have started withdrawing from the Kashmir Valley on the directives of the Central Government.

The Government announced on February 4 that it would withdraw 133 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) (over 13,000 personnel) from Jammu and Kashmir.

These personnel were deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to maintain law and order during the Amarnath land row and later to ensure peaceful conduct of elections to the State legislature last year.

Out of the 133 companies, 80 were assigned law and order duties during the Amarnath land row and the other 53 were deployed during the polls in November-December last year.

According to Prabhakar Tripathi, Public Relations Officer of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the troop withdrawal was in compliance with the decision taken by the Home Ministry.

"The battalions which had come from outside the state are going back to their respective States and those battalions whose headquarters is here (Srinagar) have gone back to their barracks," said Tripathi.

CRPF personnel were happy to be relieved.

"We are very happy that we are going back to our homes and will be meeting our families. We had come here for the elections, and now that the elections have been peacefully conducted, we are returning to our homes and our family members will also be very happy to see us," said Akbar Ali of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The decision to withdraw the paramilitary personnel from the valley was taken after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed police in the state to take law and order into their hands.

Abdullah has said that the assistance of federal forces should only be taken when there is an emergent need. (ANI)