CRPF to replace RR gradually, BSF may also be sent to some areas
*NSG anti-drone teams in Jammu to counter threat
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 11: The Union Ministries for Home and Defence will be making structural changes in consultations with stakeholders to overhaul deployment of paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
“A detailed proposal has been drafted and could be approved shortly in a joint meeting of the top officials of MHA and MoD,” sources told the Excelsior.
Meanwhile, anti-drone teams of the National Security Guards (NSG) have reportedly been deputed to Jammu by the Union Home Ministry to check drone activities along the International Border in Jammu region amid reports that militants based in Pakistan with the help of Rangers and ISI could step up drone activities in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts to send arms, explosives and narcotics to this side.
The NSG has some technology to counter drone activities while other paramilitary forces and police are yet to get fool-proof technology to spot drones though they have shot down a number of flying machines after observing their movement at different places along the International Border in Jammu region and neighbouring Punjab.
“There has been dense fog along the International Border in all three districts of the Jammu region including Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts and there are reports that the militants and Pakistani Rangers could exploit harsh weather conditions to send drones to this side,” sources said but added that the BSF has been maintaining very high alert along the border and has foiled majority of attempts to smuggle weapons and narcotics through drones.
Sources hinted that along with CRPF, the BSF could also be deployed in some of the sensitive areas of Jammu for protection of the minorities. However, a final decision will be taken shortly.
While 20 additional companies of CRPF have already reached twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, more companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed in other sensitive areas inhibited by the minorities in other parts of the Jammu region.
“Police officers in all districts have been asked to identify villages which need creation of more pickets and deployment of paramilitary forces,” sources said.
They said the proposal to deploy more paramilitary forces to gradually replace Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir is also in the advanced stage and if everything goes well, CRPF could replace RR in Ganderbal and Budgam districts of the Kashmir Valley.
The proposal, as per the sources, is being given final touch and very soon a joint team of MHA and MoD will take a call on this along with other stakeholders.
The proposal is part of structural changes the MHA wants to bring in deployment of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Senior officers of MHA and MoD are in touch over the proposal and could meet shortly in New Delhi to debate and finalize it.
“In addition to deployment of paramilitary forces and creation of more pickets, the Government is also engaged in reactivating the Village Defence Guards (VDGs) by training them and equipping them with sophisticated weapons. Senior police officers have been asked to personally monitor reactivation of VDGs including their training and meeting their requirements,” sources said.
They added that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is visiting Jammu on a day’s visit on January 13, is also likely to announce series of decisions to finish militancy in Jammu and Kashmir at the high-level security review meeting which he will chair at Raj Bhawan in the afternoon after visiting village Dhangri in Rajouri district to meet terror victim families.
“A series of measures have already been taken by the UT administration to check the terror attacks with revival of Village Defence Guards (VDGs), creation of more VDGs, equipping them with sophisticated Self Loading Rifles (SLRs), creation of pickets in minority areas and joint patrolling in sensitive villages,” sources said.
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