Amid crackdown, govt to dispatch over 10K troops

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: The Centre has ordered the dispatch of 100 additional paramilitary companies, comprising more than 10,000 personnel including Border Security Force troopers, to Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen security, especially in the troubled Valley, officials with knowledge of the decision said in New Delhi on Saturday. The additional forces are being sent in a pre-election induction exercise, according to the officials who declined to be named. It was a reference to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“The process for deployment of additional troops has started with most of them being airlifted from here. The deployment process will take a week to complete. It is temporary deployment,” said a central government official with direct knowledge of the decision.

The troops started arriving at the technical airport on the outskirts of Srinagar in the afternoon. Officials said a dozen companies of the Central Reserve Police Force and the BSF arrived on Saturday.the arrivals will continue on Sunday.the reinforcements include 45 companies of the CRPF, 35 of the BSF and 10 each of the Sashastra Seema Bal and the ITBP. Each company comprises 100 to 120 personnel. The BSF was at the forefront of counter-terror operations but was withdrawn from the valley in 2005. The J&K administration deployed the BSF in Srinagar to guard critical installations— commonly referred to as “static duty” by the security establishment. In an order issued Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said the BSF and ITBP troops will be deployed “to strengthen the law and order grid presently available in Kashmir Zone, BSF/ ITBP coys (companies) shall take over the static guard duties of CRPF deployed in Kashmir Zone.” The BSF and ITBP will take over static duties from the CRPF in around 16 places.