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Paramilitary forces ‘relocated’ in Sopore

ASEM MOHIUDDIN. Dated: 9/11/2012 12:26:12 AM

SRINAGAR, Sep 10: With the substantial improvement in situation in sensitive Sopore town of North Kashmir, the state government has evacuated paramilitary troops from nearly a dozen places like hotels, business establishments and other public properties since last six months.
By the end of year 2012, the authorities are planning to remove the paramilitary forces from all the business establishments and educational institutions. The CRPF, however, clarified this was part of normal process of relocation.
As part of this goodwill initiative, the drive was started in April this year after a partial withdrawal of troops from Industrial Estate which was occupied by forces in 1990.
The move continued following the evacuation of troops from Kapra Theatre, New Colony area, Jamia Qadeem Bridge, Hathi Shah, Khushal Matoo, Sofi Hamam, main Chowk, Muslim Peer, Arampora and Chankhan
Sources said that the step was taken after a significant decline in militancy in last few years in this apple town.
“We realise that unwanted presence of troops would create chaos in the public life. The militancy has declined and peace is returning. So we took the step to reduce the footprints of security forces in the township,” said the senior security official, wishing not to be named.
The official said that the initiative was taken after a thorough discussion with Government of India and with state security and intelligence agencies.
“The excessive presence of forces were resulting more militant attacks, therefore posing grave danger to both the public and security persons. Ever since the presence of troops was made thin, the militant attacks also reduced especially at public places,” official said.
However, more than a good will gesture, another senior security officer said the initiative was necessary to win the confidence of people as every militant attack on security installation was followed by intense protests in case of civilian causality.
The official said that the focus of security agencies was intended to restore public order rather to tackle militancy.
“Almost every militant attack was resulting into the civilian causality. The situation was turning upside down following which security forces were getting engaged to tackle the law and order problem,” official added.
However, the IG CRPF, B N Ramesh said that troops were relocated at the places where they noticed the militant movement.
“The militancy in township has been discouraged and the decision over relocation of troops was taken after a discussion with government and other security agencies including police,” he said, adding that relocation of forces doesn’t mean giving chance militancy to revive.
He said they are committed to relocate troops from schools and other essential business establishments.
Meanwhile, alongside the thinning of CRPF footprints in the apple town, a comprehensive strategy is worked out by the police after setting up Police Training Academy in the outskirts of the town at Adipora besides setting up Sub District Police Line in Rafiabad area.
The setting of these security installations is a part of security strategy to thwart intrusion of militants from Bandipora, Kupwara and Rafiabad areas in Sopore which witnesses the militant infiltrations during summer months.