8 more CRPF companies to be deployed in Srinagar for R-Day

Srinagar, Jan 18 (UNI) The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) today said it will deploy an additional eight companies in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir to thwart any attempt by militants to create disturbances ahead of the Republic Day.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi told UNI that the force as many as ten companies have been released for enhancing the security levels in both Jammu and Srinagar for the Republic Day.

Out of these, he said eight companies would be deployed in Srinagar and two in Jammu.

Mr Tripathi said the personnel of these companies were at present undergoing training and have been released for the purpose. They would return to their training camps after the Republic Day celebrations were over, he added.

The spokesman said the CRPF personnel have been put on high alert to foil any attempt by militants to cause large-scale violence in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir ahead of the Republic Day.

Besides, round-the-clock patrolling and increased frisking and checking, the CRPF has also enhanced its area domination, he added.

Mr Tripathi said the CRPF personnel have been conducting surprise checks and and set up additional check posts and barricades across the Srinagar city. A special 'Mahila' contingent has been pressed into service for frisking and checking of women, he added.

Mr Tripathi said the CRPF would replace the Border Security Force (BSF) in the hinterland in the Kashmir valley for counter-insurgency operations by March this year.

Ten new CRPF battalions would be deployed in Kashmir by March to replace the BSF in some major towns such as Anantnag, Baramulla and Sopore, he added.

With this, the total number of CRPF units in Jammu and Kashmir would go up to 72. Out of these, 14 are deployed in Jammu region and the remaining in the Kashmir valley, the spokesman said.

The CRPF was handling insurgency in Kashmir in early 1990 but was later replaced by the BSF in 1991. The BSF was then replaced by the CRPF in Srinagar in 2005 to be moved to their primary duty of guarding the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border.

However, three BSF units -- two at the Raj Bhawan and one at the Srinagar airport -- will not be touched and continue to stay put.

Mr Tripathi said four out of the 10 new battalions have been raised in Kashmir and a majority of recruits were from the Valley.

This would significantly help in providing local intelligence to the CRPF in countering militancy in Kashmir, he added.

UNI