CRPF vacates house it had occupied for 15 years

With militancy on the decline in Jammu and Kashmir,a house in densely populated Batmaloo area in central Srinagar occupied by the security forces for about 15 years,was on Sunday vacated by the CRPF. The CRPF vacated the house located at Bonipora road and it is being handed over to its owner Mohammad Ayub Khan, an official of Batmaloo Police Station told PTI.

Batmaloo was once a hub of militant activities in Srinagar and the under-construction house was occupied by the BSF in 1994 after the area was cleared of ultras. The CRPF took over complete charge of security in Srinagar from the BSF in September 2005.

A company of 157th battalion of the CRPF was the last of security personnel posted at the house,which has witnessed dozens of rocket,grenade and gunfire attacks by militants. However,there has been no attack on the camp over the past several years.

The CRPF personnel have been shifted to Battalion headquarters at nearby Tatoo Ground,the official said.