Anti-militancy Ops to be intensified after civilian killings
Will keep vigil on hybrid militants, man minority habitations
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 9: Amid a spike in targeted civilian killings by militants in Kashmir, over 5,500 additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel have been sent to the Valley to step up operations against the militants, keep vigil on hybrid ultras and strengthen security at minority habitations.
“The fresh companies were moved into the Valley on the directions of the Union Home Ministry as part of the strategy of “enhancing security and visibility” of the forces on the ground following the killings, ” officials told the Excelsior.
They said deployment of more companies of the CAPFs was discussed during series of security review meetings taken by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his four days visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir last month.
It was decided that 30 more companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 25 of Border Security Force (BSF) will be deployed in the Valley. Among 30 CRPF companies, 25 have already reached Kashmir while five more are on way and will be deployed shortly in the Valley.
The companies of the Central forces are being deployed in the Kashmir valley in the wake of targeted killings of civilians and to intensify operations against the militants. Besides, they will keep strict vigil on hybrid militants. Some of the companies will be used for strengthening security at the places inhabited by the minorities, the officials said.
A CAPF company has about 100 personnel which means the Kashmir valley will have nearly 5500 additional para-military personnel for anti-militancy operations and other purposes of keeping situation in the Valley well under control.
The officials expressed confidence that deployment of 55 additional companies of para-military forces in the Kashmir valley will be of great help in containing the rising trend of targeted civilian killings.
During the security review meetings taken by the Union Home Minister in Jammu and Kashmir, the need was felt for deployment of additional para-military forces in Kashmir. The Home Minister had given his nod for the deployments, the officials said.
The CRPF is extensively deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for law and order and counter-terrorism duties with around 60 battalions, comprising about 1,000 personnel each, based in Kashmir as regular deployment in the summer capital of Srinagar and other parts of the Valley.
The BSF guards the India-Pakistan International Border and some of its units are deployed for law and order duties in the towns too.
New bunkers have emerged in the valley as people were being frisked and vehicles scanned by the Central and UT police personnel.
Even women CRPF personnel have been deployed in areas around Lal Chowk for frisking females.
At least 14 people have lost their lives since October 1 in shootings that targeted civilians in Kashmir.
Five of those killed were labourers from Bihar, while three, including two teachers, belonged to minority communities in Kashmir.
Officials said a total of 112 militants were killed and 135 apprehended in the Union Territory this year by the CRPF and other security forces during joint operations.
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