KL Report
Srinagar
Centre is withdrawing Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) from the inter-state border between J&K and Himachal Pradesh, a Delhi newspaper reported. This apparently is the outcome of a oeaceful situation in the area.
J&K shares about 224 kms border with the Himachal. There were no deployments on this line till 1998. The deployments were made after 35 labourers were killed in two separate massacres in Satrundi and Kalaban falling in Chamba district. That was the first and so far the last militancy related incident on this long, mountain track usually inhibited seasonally by nomadic goat-herders.
Effective deployments were only at about 64 kms. Withdrawal of the deployment would mean Himachal can no more claim a share in the Security Related Expenditure (SRE). The state had set up its own VDCs in its Chamba district and SRE had started becoming a dependable recurring income.
