As Indian state Jammu and Kashmir continue to witness a spike in terror attacks, the central govenment of the country, in an unprecedented move, has removed the chief and deputy chief of the paramilitary Border Security Force(BSF).
BSF Director General Nitin Agrawal and his deputy Special DG (West) YB Khurania have been sent back to their respective state cadres with “immediate effect”, as per the central government’s order.
The Jammu and Kashmir region has been grappling with a surge in terrorist attacks for an extended period.
As of July 21 this year, data shows that 14 civilians and 14 security personnel have lost their lives in the region.
Furthermore, there have been 24 encounters or counter-terror operations and 11 terrorist-initiated incidents.
Mr Agrawal is a 1989-batch Indian Kerala cadre officer, while Mr Khurania belongs to the 1990-batch of the Indian Odisha cadre.
Mr Agrawal had taken charge as BSF chief in June last year. Mr Khurania, as the special DG (West), was heading the formation of the force along the Pakistan border.
Separate orders issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet of India said they were being "prematurely" repatriated with "immediate effect."
There have been complaints against the BSF chief over critical matters including alleged lack of coordination, sources said.
This is for the first time that heads have rolled in terror related cases.
The BSF has some 2.65 lakh personnel and guards the borders with Pakistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east.
In the past two months, attacks and ambushes have become regular events, particularly in the southern reaches of Pir Panjal, an area in which the spectre of terrorism had lain dormant for a long time in the J&K.
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