The Central government today ordered immediate removal of BSF Director General (DG) Nitin Agrawal and his deputy, Special DG (West) YB Khurania, returning them to their respective state cadres with immediate effect, according to a government order. The BSF, a force of approximately 2.65 lakh personnel, is responsible for guarding India’s borders with Pakistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east. The action comes amid sudden increase in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
At least 22 people, including 11 security personnel and a village defense guard (VDG) member, have been killed this year in such incidents in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua and Doda districts. Five terrorists were also killed in two encounters in Kathua and Doda districts last month.
Agrawal, a 1989-batch Kerala cadre officer, had taken charge as the Border Security Force chief in June of last year. Khurania, a 1990-batch Odisha cadre officer, was leading the force’s operations along the Pakistan border as Special DG (West). Separate orders from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) stated that both officers were being “prematurely” repatriated with “immediate effect.”
Troop Deployment in J&K
With a surge in terror attacks, the Center has increased deployment of forces in the Union Territory. Two battalions of Border Security Force (BSF) troops, totaling 2,000 personnel, have been airlifted from Odisha and deployed in Kashmir. A total of 1,500 elite Assam Rifles troops will be deployed under the operational control of the Army, with their primary mission being to ‘secure peaks and upper reaches’ in Kashmir.
Para-Commandos Deployed
The Army is also redeploying forces to counter battle-hardened terrorists of foreign origin. Estimates suggest that around 80 of these terrorists are operating in small groups in the upper reaches of the Pir Panjal range. In response to recent threats, the government has approved the deployment of 200 armor-protected vehicles (APVs). This decision follows a deadly attack on July 5 in Kathua district, where a military convoy was targeted, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers and injuries to five others.