Centre deploys additional 100 companies of CAPF in Kashmir

Heavy troop movements are on the way to Jammu and Kashmir, following the Centre’s order on Friday to deploy additional 100 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces in the state.

Officials privy to the development said that the troop deployments could either start with ‘immediate effect’ or in the next two to three days. They also added that mobilisation of 100 companies in J&K will be complete within the next two weeks. Each company consists of about 100 troops, so a total of about 10,000 of them will be deployed. This will happen after the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will ascertain the locations from where the companies will be picked and where they can be deployed. The deployment will largely be in Kashmir, in view of some of the badly terrorism affected districts.

Officials said that a major reason behind the fresh move is the apprehension of a disturbance in the law and order situation following the crackdown on the separatist leadership in J&K. On Friday, several Jamaat-e-Islami members were detained.


The deployment is also in view of the possibility of the state conducting assembly elections. The security arrangements will also used for the upcoming general elections. Officials also said that the arrangements are also an outcome of the Pulwama terror attack on February 14, which killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops and injured five more.

“We have to urgently deploy additional CAPFs in Jammu and Kashmir. It is requested to provide 100 companies of CAPFs (CRPF-45, BSF-35, SSB-10 and ITBP-10) to government of J&K with immediate effect and till further orders,” reads the Ministry of Home Affairs order.

The CRPF’s Inspector General (operations) will coordinate the troop movements with his counterparts in the other CAPFs.
The companies are expected to come from all over India. This could mean thinning of troops in certain areas.

“This is being done due to a fear of disturbance in the law and order situation following the detention of separatists. It also has to do with the possibility of the J&K elections and a security outcome of the Pulwama attack,” said an official.

The situation in J&K is volatile following the attack and now with the intensity of counter-terrorist operations set to increase and the government planning a range of military operations to punish the perpetrators.