SRINAGAR: After a gap of 12 years the Border Security Force (BSF) who are deployed in Srinagar have occupied several school buildings here to set up their camps. The force occupied buildings of government and semi- government schools like SP Higher Secondary at MA Road near Lal Chowk and DAVP School at Jawahar Nagar, they said. With unrest continuing in Kashmir for the last 46 days, the Centre has rushed 26 companies (about 2600 personnel) of BSF to the Valley. These forces have been drawn from Gujarat, Rajasthan and West Bengal. An additional 30 companies (about 3000 personnel) of the force are also expected to be sent to the Valley in the next few days after their withdrawal from the Amarnath Yatra duties. BSF would assist the state police and paramilitary CRPF in maintaining law and order in the Valley, officials say. The force will also strengthen the counter-terror grid. The BSF, which conducted anti-militancy operations in Kashmir for nearly 13 years from 1991, was replaced in the city by CRPF in 2004. It was taken off from counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir in 2004 and was moved to their primary duty of guarding the borders. This is for the first time since 2004 that the force has been called for active duty in the city. ]]>
