Over 1100 incidents of ceasefire violations reported after the abrogation of Article 370
Following a significant improvement in the security situation on ground zero, the Union Home Ministry has now decided to further reduce footprints of the central paramilitary forces in Kashmir valley.
72 companies of the central paramilitary forces have been directed to revert back to their respective locations with immediate effect.
According to ground reports, several terror launch pads and other vital infrastructure of the Pakistan army suffered huge damages in the region.
The decision was taken at a high-level security review meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu and top officials of the MHA, J&K Government and paramilitary forces also attended the meeting.
As many as 24 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 12 each from Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are being withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir, the MHA order issued by Mukesh Taterway, Second-in-Command (G), said.
Earlier, MHA had withdrawn about 50 companies of para-military forces from the Kashmir valley and deployed them in Assam after sporadic protests broke out against passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The para-military forces were rushed to Jammu and Kashmir prior to the scrapping of special Constitutional provisions of the erstwhile State and its bifurcation into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh on August 5.
Construction work of 14460 bunkers were approved at a cost of Rs 415.73 crore for border residents facing Pakistani shelling in Jammu division.
The situation on LoC remains grim
The Line of Control continues to remain tense across Jammu and Kashmir.
More than 1000 incidents of ceasefire violations (CFVs) have been reported along the Line of Control (LoC) from August to December this year. The International Border in the Jammu region saw 100 incidents of CFVs.
In the last week, several terror launch pads and strategic assets of the Pakistan army were hit hard by the Indian army in strong retaliatory firing close to the line of control opposite the Kupwara sector.
According to ground reports, several terror launch pads and other vital infrastructure of the Pakistan army suffered huge damages in the region. Several structures, including terror launch pads, also caught fire and were completely decimated in punitive strikes by the Indian army.
Official sources claimed, a large number of terrorists of Jaish-e- Mohammad and LeT were reportedly camping in the area awaiting their turn to sneak inside the Indian territory via Neelum valley. “It is highly unlikely terrorists camping inside these launch pads may have escaped unhurt during the intense exchange of firing in the area”, official sources claimed.
Poor pace of bunker construction
Despite the regular exchange of firing along the line of control, the civil authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are yet to complete the construction work of ‘individual‘ and ‘community bunkers‘ meant for affected border residents.
Out of sanctioned number of 14,460 bunkers, the civil authorities have managed to construct only 5538 bunkers, which is less than 40 per cent of the total number.
Construction work of 14460 bunkers were approved at a cost of Rs 415.73 crore for border residents facing Pakistani shelling in Jammu division.
A total of 13,029 individual bunkers and 1431 community bunkers were sanctioned to accommodate border residents during cross border firing.
According to official sources, “a total number of 5538 bunkers have been completed so far in the division including 5035 individual bunkers and 503 community bunkers”.
The most affected Poonch district fared badly as construction work of only 449 bunkers out of 1320 has been completed.
In recent weeks, the Pakistan army has targeted civilian areas across different sectors of Poonch using a heavy-calibre of weapons. Panic-stricken residents, left with no option, have to spend time inside their temporary structures to protect their children and livestock.
According to a report prepared by the office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, so far 1234 bunkers including community and individual bunkers have been completed in district Samba, 918 in district Jammu, 1193 in district Kathua, 1744 in district Rajouri, 449 in district Poonch.
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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