NEW DELHI: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will get bullet-proof buses for troops in terror-hit Jammu and Kashmir. Two prototypes are on trial in the Valley.
Depending on the feedback, changes will be incorporated and the bullet-proof buses will be rolled out, a CRPF spokesperson said, adding the numbers of the buses will be finalised after the trial. Terrorists have targeted buses to inflict casualties on security forces in the Valley.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has authorised the CRPF to undertake bullet-proofing of 100 existing convoy buses, for which `10 crore has been granted. In September, CRPF had sought a host of riot-control equipment and bullet-proof vehicles.
The ministry has also granted permission for procurement of 230 bullet-proof Light Utility Vehicles at an estimated cost of `115 crore, 10 mine-protected vehicles worth `15 crore and four bullet-proof critical care ambulances each worth `1 crore. In addition, `80 lakh has been sanctioned for designing an anti-riot vehicle specifically for the Valley to combat stone pelters.
The ministry has also directed the CRPF to strengthen Road Opening Patrols in vulnerable areas to avoid terror attacks on convoys.