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Amid a raging controversy over withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Jammu and Kashmir, the CRPF on Friday said the paramilitary force does not have an issue (over withdrawal of the Act) if it is assured of protection against prosecution and immunity for operational action.
The paramilitary maintained that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved and decision of withdrawal of the special Act and troop reduction has to be taken by the Union Home Ministry.
“CRPF does not have a stand on this. We go by the stand of the Home Ministry. As long as the protection against prosecution (for the force) and immunity for operational action is available, there is no issue. As far as the CRPF is considered, there is a policy of Home Ministry which we will abide,” Director General of the CRPF, K Vijay Kumar, told reporters here.
"We normally work as an extension to local police, complementing the local police and in support of the local police. But it is not necessary that in every circumstance there will be local police with us, so that explains why even otherwise CRPF requires this kind of protection," he said.
Insiders, however, said withdrawal of AFSPA would mar the functional autonomy of the paramilitary. The police per se is not mandated to use grenades against terrorist hideouts and only paramilitary forces are empowered to use such weapons on "reasonable" doubt of any terrorist activity. This besides, the authority to check vehicles and frisk people would also be affected.
But Kumar expressed satisfaction over the improved situation in the State saying Jammu and Kashmir had "one of the best years" in recent times.
"Overall, if you see the statistics of J and K, it has been one of the best years despite certain incidents which happened. In terms of tourism or in terms of other activities, which are the indices of normalcy, if you look at it, it has been one of the best years in Srinagar. When you see the overall situation, you will see generally it is improving," the DG said, adding the Jammu and Kashmir police has been upfront in controlling the situation.
About 69 battalions (nearly 69,000 men) and three companies (three hundred personnel) of women are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.
Close to 60 per cent of the CRPF personnel in J-K are deployed in counter insurgency and related duties and the remaining provide security to VIPs/vital installations and perform law and order duties among others.
Major shrines like Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar are being guarded by CRPF besides the force also maintains security at the highly sensitive airports at Srinagar and Jammu.
When asked about the reduction of CRPF in the state, Kumar said, "Such a thing has not been conveyed by the Home Ministry. It is a matter of constant discussion with the Home Ministry and the State government there. As and when such decisions are conveyed, we will implement it."
Kumar said that there has been withdrawal of troops in recent years. "As compared to previous years, Yes. We had a peak of 74-75 battalions (about 75,000 personnel) and that has certainly reduced," the DG added.
The paramilitary maintained that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved and decision of withdrawal of the special Act and troop reduction has to be taken by the Union Home Ministry.
“CRPF does not have a stand on this. We go by the stand of the Home Ministry. As long as the protection against prosecution (for the force) and immunity for operational action is available, there is no issue. As far as the CRPF is considered, there is a policy of Home Ministry which we will abide,” Director General of the CRPF, K Vijay Kumar, told reporters here.
"We normally work as an extension to local police, complementing the local police and in support of the local police. But it is not necessary that in every circumstance there will be local police with us, so that explains why even otherwise CRPF requires this kind of protection," he said.
Insiders, however, said withdrawal of AFSPA would mar the functional autonomy of the paramilitary. The police per se is not mandated to use grenades against terrorist hideouts and only paramilitary forces are empowered to use such weapons on "reasonable" doubt of any terrorist activity. This besides, the authority to check vehicles and frisk people would also be affected.
But Kumar expressed satisfaction over the improved situation in the State saying Jammu and Kashmir had "one of the best years" in recent times.
"Overall, if you see the statistics of J and K, it has been one of the best years despite certain incidents which happened. In terms of tourism or in terms of other activities, which are the indices of normalcy, if you look at it, it has been one of the best years in Srinagar. When you see the overall situation, you will see generally it is improving," the DG said, adding the Jammu and Kashmir police has been upfront in controlling the situation.
About 69 battalions (nearly 69,000 men) and three companies (three hundred personnel) of women are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.
Close to 60 per cent of the CRPF personnel in J-K are deployed in counter insurgency and related duties and the remaining provide security to VIPs/vital installations and perform law and order duties among others.
Major shrines like Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar are being guarded by CRPF besides the force also maintains security at the highly sensitive airports at Srinagar and Jammu.
When asked about the reduction of CRPF in the state, Kumar said, "Such a thing has not been conveyed by the Home Ministry. It is a matter of constant discussion with the Home Ministry and the State government there. As and when such decisions are conveyed, we will implement it."
Kumar said that there has been withdrawal of troops in recent years. "As compared to previous years, Yes. We had a peak of 74-75 battalions (about 75,000 personnel) and that has certainly reduced," the DG added.
