Jammu: The BSF is withdrawing six companies
comprising nearly 900 men from the border districts of Rajouri
and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, a police officer said on Tuesday.
"Six companies of the Border Security Forces (BSF)
comprising nearly 900 men are under withdrawal. Some of the
companies have already shifted out of Sunderbani in-depth
areas in Rajouri," the officer said.
By middle of the month, the BSF troops will move out of
the counter-insurgency grid in Rajouri, he said, adding that
the security apparatus will now be left to the police.
However, villagers in remote and mountainous areas of
Noushera sector have protested the move citing threat from
militants in the area, which has several infiltration routes
from across the border.
The Army has already ordered withdrawal of the 39th
mountain division, consisting of about 15,000 personnel, from
the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and the
process is expected to be completed by the year end.
Some battalions of the division called advance parties
have moved to Palampur in Himachal Pradesh.
The division was shifted from Palampur to Rajouri and
Poonch districts in 1994 to assist joint security grid in
conducting counter insurgency operations and to foil
infiltration bids.
Bureau Report
