SC allows Centre to withdraw 7 companies of CRPF from Darjeeling
Darjeeling, October 27: After Centre ordered to withdraw forces from Darjeeling, Bengal government went to Calcutta High Court with the plea to put a stay on center’s decision.; then Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking the withdrawal of central security forces from Darjeeling. Overturning the High Court judgment Supreme Court allowed Centre to withdraw 7 of the 15 companies of CRPF.
"Thinning of CAPFs from the Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir and Ling Wing Extremist-affected areas poses danger to internal security. Therefore, the Centre cannot prolong the deployment of its forces on the demand of states and ignore such critical considerations relating to internal security," Centre's counsel, Wasim Ahmed Quadri said seeking an early hearing of the case.
When Centre ordered to withdraw forces from Darjeeling, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stubbornly opposed the decision. She blamed Central for playing dirty politics in Darjeeling and for helping to continue the agitation. But Central gave justified reason to withdraw the force as the region was already getting back to normalcy. In addition to that Centre needs force for Gujrata and Uttarakhand election and for internal security in Jammu and Kashmir.
On 15th October Centre sent a letter to state telling that it will withdraw 7 CRPF troops and three SSB troops on 16th October. But Bengal government got disappointed and moved to High Court seeking stay on the order.