APD | India: 7,000 paramilitary troops to be withdrawn from Kashmir

By APD writer Rishika

**New Delhi, Dec. 25 (APD) ** - India’s Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday announced that 72 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) would be called back from the recently formed Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision was made at a high-level review meeting wherein the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was discussed.

The National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval chaired the meeting, while others present there were Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, G C Murmu, and Union Home Secretary Ajay K Bhalla.

Following the meeting Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the withdrawal of more than 7,000 paramilitary troops from Kashmir.

The paramilitary forces withdrawn include, 24 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, 12 each of the Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal.

Previously 20 companies of the paramilitary forces were withdrawn from Kashmir. The withdrawal of the forces comes after four months of the announcement that the province of Jammu and Kashmir will be made a Union Territory.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)