Following an upward trend in attacks on security forces after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen ‘commander’ Burhan Wani, the paramilitary force is also procuring armoured vehicles for deployment in J&K. Against an authorisation of nearly 1,100 BPVs, the holding is just 550. There was no authorisation for MPVs in J&K. The CRPF has moved over 10 MPVs and about 40 BPVs to J&K after the recent unrest there and more will be shifted till new ones are procured.
Unlike BPVs, MPVs have the advantage of height and mobility, providing its occupants an edge in seeing targets.
Recently, BSF buses were hit by terrorists in Udhampur and Bijbehara, CRPF buses were attacked in Pampore and Bijbehara besides and 20 soldiers were killed in an attack on SSB buses in Srinagar.
The CRPF does not have a separate authorisation of MPVs for J&K. Even though it has deployed 70,000 personnel in the state, it has not procured a single armoured vehicle in the last five years. The issue was raised in Parliament many times, but the CRPF mastered the art of giving vague replies, sources said.
Recently, the CRPF earmarked `20 crore as advance for buying the vehicles. After terrorists hit a CRPF convoy in Pampore on June 25 and killed eight soldiers, the force sought `200 crore for acquisition of armoured vehicles in July, but the Central government has not allocated any additional funds for it.