The Hindu : National : CRPF to replace BSF in Valley by March-end

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Friday, Jan 05, 2007
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CRPF to replace BSF in Valley by March-end

Shujaat Bukhari

10 more battalions have been raised for counter insurgency

SRINAGAR: Replacing the Border Security Force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is all set to take complete control of counter insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley by March-end.

Official sources said a plan to give the CRPF control of some major towns including Anantnag, Baramulla and Sopore was under way and 10 more battalions of the force were raised for the purpose.

The CRPF, along with the Jammu and Kashmir police, is in control of counter insurgency operations, in Srinagar and some other towns. But the highly militant infested Baramulla and Anantnag are still with the BSF.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi told The Hindu that the most significant feature of the takeover was that four out of the 10 new battalions were raised in Kashmir. A majority of the recruits were from Kashmir.

"This will help a great deal in providing local inputs to the force, which is in the forefront of fighting militancy," said a senior officer.

With the induction of the new battalions, the total number of CRPF units in the State would go up to 72. Out of 62 battalions already deployed, 14 are in the Jammu region. The CRPF was handling insurgency in the valley in early 1990 but in the wake of many massacres, the BSF replaced it in 1991 and achieved major successes in neutralising militancy.

With fresh orientation the CRPF too did not lag behind. "We are aware of the sensitivities and new challenges, that is why we are on the path of success," Anand P Maheshwari, Inspector-General, CRPF (Operations) told this reporter shortly.

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