Srinagar, Sep 11: On the directions of Union Ministry of Home Affairs, there would be a ‘gradual withdrawal’ of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from the Valley and Jammu regions while the J&K police cops would serve as the replacement.
 In the coming fortnight or so, the CRPF officials said they are withdrawing one battalion from Srinagar. “We are withdrawing one battalion from Srinagar in coming days,” the Public Relation Officer, CRPF, Sudhir Kumar told Greater Kashmir, adding that “this is the fourth battalion that would be moved out from Kashmir in a span of one and a half year.”
 “The orders of withdrawal have come from our headquarters,” Kumar said.
 However sources in CRPF said that MHA has conveyed the decision of withdrawal to CRPF headquarters in New Delhi. “CRPF operates under Union Home Ministry and certainly this is their direction,” sources said.
 Senior police officers said that the move is expected to instill “a sense of security” among people and to minimize the footprints of paramilitary CRPF in Srinagar. “We expect that some more battalions would be moved out in coming months,” said a senior police officer, wishing anonymity.
 Earlier in the first step, around 50 bunkers of CRPF have been removed from Srinagar and the process is on.
 The senior police officer said that CRPF would be replaced by the Indian Reserve Police (IRP) of J&K Police and there is a proposal of immediate raising of some more IRP battalions in near future. “Way back the proposal for raising the battalions has been mooted for final nod from the MHA,” the officer said, adding that “we are hopeful for a positive reply.”
 He said that for phased-removal of all paramilitary personnel from Jammu and Kashmir, 50 more police battalions are to be raised for deployment in ‘trouble-prone areas’ of the State to maintain law and order.
 Presently, 52 CRPF battalions are operating in Kashmir valley. Amongst them 25 battalions are operating in Srinagar district while 27 battalions are deployed in other districts of north, south and central Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST