With normalcy slowly returning to the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has reportedly decided to de-induct 102 companies from the restive Kashmir valley.
According to a report in DNA, 45 companies of CRPF have already been withdrawn and another 10 companies are leaving in a couple of days, depending on the status of the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
A company of CRPF comprises 135 men on paper. However, given the people on leave and training, the strength of a company remains around 100 men on ground.
These CRPF personnel were deployed in the valley after Burhan Wani's killing on July 8 last year, to aid in quelling the unrest that followed.
"The situation has improved and there is also a requirement of these troops in the states where elections are coming up. Moreover, the winter is severe. Fifteen companies left in December and around 30 more left in January so far. I think eight to 10 companies are in the process of withdrawal," Rajesh Yadav, CRPF spokesperson in Kashmir, told DNA.
"Law and order is under control and incidents of stone pelting has lessened too. Our deployments for counter-insurgency are performing their duties too. We have only withdrawn the additional companies which had arrived in July. These companies will in all probability stay back with their parent units (outside the state)," he added.
Apart from CRPF, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has also withdrawn nine companies so far, while Indo Tibetian Border Force (ITBP) has withdrawn 17 companies and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has withdrawn five companies.
