“The CRPF has the potential, ability, training, and technology to operate effectively in such (counter-insurgency) scenarios” said former IG CRPF (Kashmir Ops) MS Bhatia in a statement.
“This is a policy issue which is decided at the highest level. And we will go by whatever mandate is given to us. Right now also, we are actively involved in operations along with the Army and the J-K Police,” he added.
Some Reports say that the Government of India considers the Phased withdrawal of the army from Kashmir valley, and it believes the security situation has improved since August 2019 when the J&K’s special status was scrapped.
According to defence sources the Indian army is focusing on the emergent threat (china) and honing its skills in conventional warfighting and advanced its discussions to move RR to LOC. The continuous deployment in CI/CT ops will destroy conventional war fighting skills of any military. So it is to consider that since its inception in 1990 rashtriy rifles of the indian army did a remarkable role in the valley fighting unconventional warfare.
The rashtriya rifles in kashmir valley and jammu division, consist of five counter insurgency force (CIF) headquarters.
Romeo force – rajouri and poonch,
Delta force – doda,
Victor force – valley districts,
Kilo – kupwara, baramulla, srinagar,
Uniform – udhampur, banihal,
The reputation of RR as a specialized anti terror force has a tremendous impact on the militants psyche who avoid any confrontation with RR. Due to the proactive nature of operations conducted by well trained and well equipped troops, militants lost a number of their cadres, arms and equipment which was a grave setback to them. In RR each individual is given the opportunity to prove his mettle in the operational field. They have better relations with the locals to gain more authentic flow of intelligence.
The RR comprises almost 50% from infantry battalions they were well trained in close combat situations (close quarter battle).
As per the sources claiming that the replacement of RR with the CRPF, if you compare both forces there is a lot of difference between them from the basic training to the ground duties. The infantry soldiers of RR mainly trained for close combat situations and offensive attacks, because their ground duties will be like that, And they don’t interfere in civil affairs until it is necessary. As we know CRPF is a police force, and the constables of CRPF mainly trained to maintain law and order situations and anti riot drills. CRPF was the main and frontline force when there was stone pelting in the kashmir valley. And there is no doubt that CRPF will successfully counter any anti national riot or gathering with their gas guns and PAGs. But to counter terrorism CRPF is not trained for that. As per their basic training they were least trained in combat skills and better trained in anti riot drills.
There are examples of IPS mis-adventures and lack of tactical skills like the 2001 chintalnar ambush in chattisgarh suffered by CRPF with 76 casualties (almost a company strength). In the CAPF, IG and above ranks are led by IPS officers, they are not actively involved in the ground duties, they will take the reports by the CAPF officers who were active in ground. Here the policy makers are the IPS officers and the ground commanders are the CAPF officers. Sometimes these two type structured commands will lead to mis-adventures. But the army officers art well trained tactical skills and they have only one structured command. This won’t lead to any misunderstandings and mis-adventures.
CRPF was using riot protection helmets(RPH), when patkas were issued for the first time to the Indian army. And some constables of CRPF still using RPH’s in ROP’s and VIP security deployments. It is to consider that, RPHs are not ballistic. The militants in kashmir fires blindly towards the security forces the bullet is unpredictable. Maybe there is a lack in supply of ballistic helmets or patkas in CRPF. When it comes to intelligence CRPF barely on this and mostly relies on j-k police. But in the RR , there are separate companies or wings of surrendered militants as they will provide information to them.
The then DG of JK sinha said “with our increased responsibility to deal with militants across india, we felt the need for our own intelligence wing, we worked on it and decided to set it up with our existing sources.” The independent intelligence wing is headed by an officer of the rank of IG with its HQ in new delhi. It is for the records only, but in the reality of ground level, there is no such achievement had been made.
But not to criticise the CRPF chose the right way and created RR type force “The valley QAT” an elite anti-terrorist unit. It was initially created to escort and provide security for convoys and VIPs. But an attack on a BSF camp near Srinagar airport converted their units into a specialised urban warfare force. And it has won most shourya chakras and kirti chakras in recent times. Another step toward counter terrorism, a specialised unit in jungle warfare, The CoBRA commandos are going to deploy in the kashmir valley. These commandos were fighting naxals in LWE areas and now are being trained to deal with terrorists in urban and rural areas of the valley. According to officials the 205 CoBRA battalion which is deployed in bihar where the presence of naxals has been shrinking are now being trained to counter terrorists in the valley. One company of this unit has already shifted to srinagar and is going to get training with valley QAT. It is an added advantage to the elite commandos who are already trained in jungle warfare and now being trained in urban warfare.
The author can be reached at : echoalpha.ea@proton.me
GOOD RESEARCH
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