Special concession for Kashmiris in CRPF recruitment

Srinagar, Apr 30 (UNI) The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has decided to give special concession to the Kashmiri valley youths in its recruitment policy.

''We have decided to allow a eighth standard passed youth of the valley to apply for the CRPF when in the rest of the country the minimum qualification is metriculation for the post of general duty constable,'' a CRPF spokesman told UNI.

He said the decision was taken for the first time keeping in view the 17-year-long turmoil that affected every shade of the life, including education.

The spokesman said a special massive recruitment drive will be launched soon in the valley for Kashmiri youths only. No candidate from Jammu or Ladakh can apply for the posts reserved for the youths of Kashmir, he said adding the education qualification for which will be eighth pass.

In reply to a question he said 247 youths of the valley will be adjusted during the drive in the CRPF after their proper physical tests and police verification. The concession is limited to the education qualification, he added.

He said the CRPF also launched similar recruitment drive in Gurez and Uri area for Gujjar and Bakerwal youths last year. The selected youths are undergoing training, he said.

The spokesman said of the 450 newly recruits who completed the training at Humhama training centre, 22 were from Kashmir.

He said ten new battalions are being raised in the country for which recruitment drive was on.

''As every state gets its due share from the recruitment quota in the CRPF there will be no qualification concession in these recruitments for anyone,'' he said.

The CRPF had replaced Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) in all major towns and other areas in the Kashmir valley.

About 58 battalions of the CRPF have been deployed in the valley for counter-insurgency operations and security of VVIPs and vital installations.

UNI