Two well trained paramilitary CRPF battalions have replaced army on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road link connecting Kashmir with rest of the world.
“Two CRPF battalions have replaced some of army contingents along the highway upto 145th km. Two more battalions would also be deployed between 145 to 204 kms to relieve the army men from guarding the vital highway,” Director General (Special), CRPF, Jammu N K Tripathi told Rising Kashmir.
He said the CRPF deployment is part of Government of India’s policy of trimming army’s presence on Srinagar-Jammu highway. “CRPF is ready to take over any role at any time in the State”.
Tripathi disclosed that CRPF men had undergone two weeks of training from Army and CRPF instructors before taking over the charge of independently securing the strategic NH 1-A between Jammu and Ramban (up to 145 km along the 294-km-long highway).
“After the training period completed, the CRPF men carried out joint road opening drills with army men on vulnerable locations for two weeks. On March 26, they took over the role of guarding a portion of highway from army,” he said.
DG CRPF, however, said army will still mark its presence along the highway in the form of its sophisticated surveillance equipment used on daily basis to sanitize the only road link connecting Kashmir with rest of the world. “Through their sophisticated gadgetry, they would detect the presence of any explosive/IED material near the culvert/bridge or under the ground”.
“The CRPF has initiated the process of procuring its own surveillance gadgetry, but for the time being it is relying on the Army,” he added.
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