NEW DELHI: Amid Intelligence assessments suggesting a spurt in violence from mid-November in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Home Ministry has sanctioned an array of anti-riot equipment, armoured vehicles and high-altitude gear for procurement by the Central paramilitary forces exclusively for deployment in the State to counter any possible attacks by Pakistan-sponsored terror groups.
Apart from 60 units (60,000 personnel) of CRPF deployed in the Valley, over ten battalions of Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal are also engaged in counter-insurgency grid of the State.
The CRPF will procure about 140 mine-protected vehicles, 60 anti-terrorist vehicles and close to 600 bullet-resistant light and medium utility vehicles. Likewise, the Centre has authorised procurement of 20 MPVs and over 40 bullet-resistant vehicles for ITBP and nearly 70 such vehicles for SSB. The paramilitary will also procure splinter/blast proof goggles, bullet-proof mobile morchas and three ballistic shields to control violent mobs.
Anti-riot equipment to be procured by the CRPF include over 20,000 full body protectors and about 15,500 polycarbonate cane/shield. The ITBP will procure close to 1,200 full body protectors and similar number of anti-riot helmet with visor besides 500 VHF communication sets. Likewise, the SSB will procure about 3,500 full body protectors and a similar number of anti-riot helmets and over 2700 polycarbonate lathis/shield.
“Keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation in Kashmir, CRPF, ITBP and SSB have identified their urgent requirement of anti-riot equipment and extremely cold clothing (ECC). After examining the proposal of the paramilitary forces and the prevailing situation in the State, the Ministry has allowed the procurement of these items as a one-time measure,” a senior Union Home Ministry official said.
All these items would be declared as sector stores and the same will have to be deposited to the CRPF in case any company or battalion of the paramilitary forces is withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir. The sanction to procure these items has been given keeping in view volatile situation and operational scenario in the State, the official further said adding the CRPF DG has been asked to ensure availability of funds for purchases of these items on an urgent basis.
While there is relative peace on the ground due to significant decline in violence parameters over the last two weeks, Intelligence estimates suggest the lull in violence could be broken by some major attack that is likely to be carried out by an estimated 250-300 Pakistan-sponsored terrorists hiding in the Valley.