CRPF Is Potential For Kashmir’s Counter-insurgency Operations, Says Officer

A senior officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) hints the force is fully equipped and capable of taking the lead role in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir in case of emergency.

He said the past three years mark an improvement in the valley’s security position and underlined the force’s active alertness monitoring delinquent elements.

The potential of the CRPF was further supported by M S Bhatia, IG CRPF (Kashmir Operations) saying, CRPF has the ability, training, and technology to operate effectively in counter-insurgency scenarios.

Commenting on the centre’s role to withdraw the Army in a phased manner from hinterland operations in Kashmir Bhatia said, it is a policy that gets approved at a higher level and will follow the mandate assigned to us to actively remain involved in all operations along with the Army and the J-K Police

He said the CRPF replaced the Border Security Force (BSF) in the counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir in 2005, amid scepticism that the former might not be able to keep up the high standards of the frontier guards. And highlighted a "big change" in the situation in Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370.

 However, the IG CRPF emphasised, a total wipe-out of militancy or terrorism cannot be claimed but the situation has improved than before, there is a shrink in the number, recruitment and shelf life of a terrorist.

There may be chances of misguided youths joining the ranks but the scenario is improving with them getting eliminated very fast, Bhatia added.

He further credited the intelligence network for keeping an eye on delinquent persons and marked the new recruitment with wrong intentions going down. 

 Bhatia stressed the stone pelting has come down to zero and there has been a drastic improvement in the law-and-order situation.

He expressed great optimism towards the changed situation and said that terrorism still occurs here and there but by and large, the larger picture resembles a significant change.

According to reports, the CRPF is ready with modernized weapons and equipment to effectively deal with anti-national elements. And Bullet-proof vehicles, wall-through radars and drones are some of its new gadget’s additions.