For the first time, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has stationed a specialized force of 960 trained officers in the Union Territory's border areas specifically to counter terrorism and infiltration, The Indian Express reported on Thursday. This force is unique as it is solely dedicated to this task and cannot be assigned to any other duties.
Security personnel stand guard after an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists, in Pulwama district, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (PTI Photo)
The report noted that this initiative is in response to a recent increase in infiltration attempts by heavily-armed foreign terrorists from Pakistan.
Unveiling the Deployment of This Emerging Force
According to the report, approximately 560 of these newly-trained police personnel have been stationed in the border areas of the Jammu division, while the rest have been assigned duties in the Kashmir Valley.
Innovative Distinctions of the New Force Unveiled
According to reports, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain stated that the recruitment of approximately 960 jawans, who graduated from the Jammu and Kashmir Police Training School and were deployed in border areas on Wednesday, was based on their regional origin.
On lines of US Marines, 960 newly minted policemen will exclusively combat terror in J-K | The Indian Express
Statement released by DGP Swain
"The selections will be made from the border areas and they will be deployed in the border areas," said Swain, according to the national daily.
Stating that "there are strict restrictions on them", Swain explained that the new force will work "only on anti-infiltration and anti-terrorism fronts". He added that they will "not be deployed as personal security officers or in the office or for any other extra work".
DGP Swain also said the supervisory officers of these personnel have been "strictly instructed that they cannot be shifted to other jobs than their original anti-infiltration and anti-terrorism work".
DGP Swain added that the officers have been told that they will deploy these personnel "only on anti-infiltration and anti-terrorism work so that the general area security gets enhanced and it becomes extremely difficult for the adversary to infiltrate and spread terror".
Quoting Swain, the report said that the new force's personnel are "very young" and "from the border villages". Swain added that they know the area of operation well and understand the enemy's tactics. "They are our own boys and they are not from places outside Jammu and Kashmir – not even from other districts of J&K, but from the respective border tehsils only," he told the national daily.
New Force Established: Reasons Behind Its Creation
According to the report, the decision to deploy specially trained personnel in their respective border tehsils aims to enhance human intelligence capabilities.
As locals, these personnel are expected to more effectively gather information on any unusual activities in their areas. Their intelligence contributions are anticipated to assist the regular police and security forces in countering terrorist infiltrations near the border.
The necessity for such a force has become clear following recent incidents.
In June, terrorists managed to reach remote areas in the Doda and Reasi districts without detection by security agencies.
In Kathua district's Saida village, two terrorists were killed by security forces and Jammu Kashmir Police after they requested water from villagers, who then raised the alarm.
In the Doda district, security forces killed three terrorists, but only after they attacked a joint Army and police check post, revealing their presence.
In the Reasi district, security forces became aware of a fresh infiltration by militants only after an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims, which resulted in nine deaths and several injuries.
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