8 more CRPF companies being rushed to Valley from New Delhi

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 11: After deployment of 16 additional companies of para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) in the Kashmir valley to strengthen deployment to tackle protesters and provide full security to Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims, the Union Home Ministry today decided to immediately dispatch eight more additional companies of para-military forces to the Valley.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting of the Union Home Ministry chaired by Rajnath Singh and attended among others by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Dineshwar Sharma and CRPF Director General K Durga Prasad among others.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Rajnath Singh after taking all security aspects into consideration and being briefed by top officials of the Home Ministry, Intelligence agencies and heads of para-military forces, directed the CRPF Director General to dispatch eight more companies of the CRPF to the Kashmir valley immediately.
As each CRPF company comprised about 100 personnel, 800 more troops would reach the Kashmir valley by tomorrow, sources said, adding the troops were likely to be airlifted directly to Srinagar in special planes from where they would be deployed at vulnerable places including the routes taken by Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims.
The 800 additional troops of para-military forces approved today by the Union Home Minister for the Kashmir valley were in addition to 16 companies of CRPF and JKAP sent to the Valley during past two days in the aftermath of disturbances in different parts following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen divisional commander Burhan Wani.
Out of 16 additional companies already sent to the Valley, six CRPF companies were dispatched from New Delhi to Srinagar while one company of CRPF and nine of JKAP were sent from Jammu to the Valley.
“More para-military forces would be given to J&K if asked for after the deployment of additional troops,’’ sources said, adding that the Home Ministry officials have told J&K that law and order should be maintained and yatra progress smoothly.
According to sources, nearly half of the additional para-military forces and JKAP personnel sent from New Delhi and Jammu to the Kashmir valley have been deployed at various places for protection of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims while other half were being used to strengthen deployment to tackle the protests being staged by the people against the killing of Burhan Wani.
Sources said the Central Government was deeply concerned about safety and security of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims and unrest in the Valley and want return of normalcy.
They added that deployment of security forces has been strengthened all along the National Highways of Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar, the base camps of Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, Nunwan (Pahalgam) and Baltal in the Valley, twin tracks of Chandanwari and Baltal and holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji.
“It was only after strengthening the security all along the routes and base camps that Shri Amarnath Ji yatra was resumed,’’ sources said.
Meanwhile, internet services remained suspended in entire Jammu region for third consecutive day today.
The divisional administration of Jammu had suspended the internet services in Jammu region on Saturday afternoon to prevent rumour mongering in the wake of Burhan Wani’s killing.
Meanwhile, shops owned by majority community remained closed and people took out protest marches in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Doda and Banihal towns today in protest against the killing of Burhan Wani.
The bandh at all the places passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported from anywhere.
The protesters raised road blockades in Kishtwar at various places due to which, traffic was disrupted. About 15 vehicles of Chito Mata Ji Yatra bound for Sole, Kishtwar were stranded between Dool and Kishtwar due to the protests during the day. The vehicles were cleared in the evening.
At all other places like Bhaderwah, Doda and Banihal, shops owned by the majority community remained closed.

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