Centre starts withdrawing paramilitary forces from West Bengal

New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) The Centre has decided to withdraw
in a phased manner around 15,000 central paramilitary
personnel currently deployed in the eastern Indian state of
West Bengal as the law and order situation there was fast
returning to normal.
The phase-wise withdrawal of the paramilitary forces began
yesterday and it will be completed by the end of this month, a
Home Ministry official said.
"Every day, we are withdrawing seven companies (around 700
personnel)," he said.
These paramilitary forces were part of the 701 companies
(each comprising around 100 jawans) sent for peaceful conduct
of Assembly elections in West Bengal.
At the request of the West Bengal government, 144
companies have been retained in the state to ensure peace in
the post-election phase.
Since May 14, a day after the results of West Bengal
Assembly polls were declared, police have conducted about 200
raids and recovered nearly 1,500 fire arms and around 14,000
rounds of ammunition of different varieties from various
police stations.
Over 140 people were arrested and some of these arms
seizures were reportedly found at local-level CPI(M) offices
and the house of a CPI(M) supporter.
"Now situation has improved to a great extent. So, we have
decided to withdraw the forces in a phased manner," the
official said.
However, around 4,000 paramilitary forces deployed in
anti-Naxal operations -- mainly in Maoists-hit districts --
would continue to stay in West Bengal.