Bandipore, July 16: Security forces Saturday vacated the Town Hall building in this north Kashmir town after 16 years.
As the word about the forces vacating the building spread in the area this morning there was jubilations all around. People were seen congratulating each other.
 “CRPF men started dismantling the camp on late Friday evening. I thought they are renovating it. I was surprised to find building empty this morning” said a resident Rifat Anjum.
 “This camp witnessed many grenade attacks since 1996. From 2008 to 2010 it had become the target of stone-pelting,” said Anjum Nissar.
 “CRPF men vacating the camp is a big relief for us. It had become an irritant in the locality,” locals alleged. “We had also informed interlocutors about this infamous camp when they visited the district a few months ago.”
 They said that the building was “forcibly occupied” by the personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) in 1996. “After BSF vacated the building CRPF men occupied it. We have been running from pillar to post for many years to get this building vacated. We are happy at last authorities fulfilled our long pending demand,” they added.
 Locals said that Government should also evacuate forces from other residential areas.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST