18 CRPF companies rushed to Rajouri, Poonch

A senior CRPF officer said nine companies have already reached Rajouri and the remaining ones will reach in the night; they will be deployed for the anti-terror operations in Rajouri and Poonch districts

Following the twin terror attacks that claimed six lives at Dhangri village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, the ministry of home affairs on Wednesday rushed 18 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to intensify anti-terror operations in the region.

The ministry of home affairs on Wednesday rushed 18 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to intensify anti-terror operations in the region. (HT Photo for representational purpose)

A senior CRPF officer said, “Nine companies have already reached Rajouri and the remaining ones will reach tonight. They will be deployed for the anti-terror operations in Rajouri and Poonch districts.”

“They will strengthen the counter-insurgency operations in tandem with police, army and sister agencies,” he added.

One company of the CRPF usually has a strength of around 120 men.

Officials privy to the development said the home ministry made the decision following the spike in selective killings of members belonging to minority communities in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Eight companies have been sent to Rajouri from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir while 10 companies are being rushed from Delhi,” they added.

The areas in south of Pir Panjal range will be divided into zones to launch combing operations in the upper reaches, it has been learnt.

“Already facing sharp criticism over spike in selective killings in Kashmir, the home ministry has taken killing of six Hindus in Dhangri very seriously and has issued clear instructions to nip the disturbing trend in the bud,” they added.

J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha during his visit to Dhangri on Monday had assured that village defence committees will be given self-loading rifles within seven days.

According to security forces’ assessment, two suspected terrorists allegedly owing allegiance to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) carried out the selective killings in Dhangri and had also opened fire outside an army’s camp in Rajouri on December 16, leaving two civilians dead and one injured.