MHA decides to withdraw 72 companies of CAPF from J&K

New Delhi:The Home Ministry on Tuesday decided to withdraw 72 companies of Central para-military forces from the  Union Territory of  Jammu and Kashmir.The order,  issued on December 23, sent to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of the newly-created UT of J&K, directed to withdraw these companies with immediate effect.

"Out of 72 companies withdrawn, 24 companies are of CRPF, 12 companies each from BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB", the Home Minister read.This withdrawal is after four-and-a-half months of continuous mobilisation, finally giving some relaxation in troop deployment in Kashmir valley.

The additional CAPF troops were moved from various locations and deployed two weeks before August 5, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir  through the Act, passed by Parliament.The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill was introduced in Parliament on August 5, which abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, resulting in division of  the state into two separate  Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Laddakh.

The Home Ministry kept on  saying that the situation in J&K was returning to normalcy, which led to the withdrawal of security forces.(UNI)