‘Verify inputs, refrain from isolated movements’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 22: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which has been engaged in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir along with Army and police, is reported to have asked its units to verify inputs before undertaking operations and exercise extra caution in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
The advisory came a day after terror attack on Army vehicles near Dera Ki Gali (DKG) in Surankote area of Poonch district.
Officials said the CRPF has advised its all units against “blind trust” on any given input and stressed on thorough verification as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) before undertaking search operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The CRPF has issued a high alert in the region, specifically urging troops to exercise extra caution while moving through and conducting operations in Rajouri and Poonch areas. At the same time, the CRPF units have been asked to conduct massive operations against the militants on specific inputs and join Army and police in the similar operations.
However, CRPF personnel and officials have been directed to refrain from isolated movements, the sources said.
They have been asked to use bulletproof vehicles to enhance their safety wherever such vehicles are available.
“Detailed instructions, outlining dos and don’ts, have been disseminated to all troops and officials regarding movements and operations. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is imperative, and additional instructions have been incorporated based on initial reports of the recent ambush on the Army,” the officials said
Given that terrorists are cowardly targeting troops in isolated places, specific guidelines have been issued to address this threat, they added.
Sources said senior officers of the paramilitary forces have been assigned the responsibility of closely monitoring all operations, and a shift towards relying on official channels for inputs has been emphasized, diminishing reliance on locally gathered information.
“This strategic adjustment is intended to bolster the credibility and accuracy of intelligence,” the sources said.
Though there have been no casualties of the CRPF in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch this year where 19 Army jawans have been martyred, the paramilitary force has been in forefront of anti-militancy operations in both the districts besides Rajouri and Poonch police.
In four separate incidents and encounters in the two districts this year, Army has lost 19 bravehearts but at the same time they have eliminated nearly 30 terrorists, both on the Line of Control (LoC) as well as hinterland. Militants had killed seven civilians at Dhangri in Rajouri district on January 1 this year.
Since the Pulwama attack of February 2019 in which the CRPF lost 40 bravehearts, heightened scrutiny of movements in J&K has been a priority for senior officers. Poonch, in particular, has presented a formidable challenge, with security forces encountering multiple attacks and facing casualties.
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