KPs’ return to Kashmir to be decided by them or ‘agencies’: CRPF DG
“Periodic spurt in terrorist incidents being contained by security forces”
New Delhi: In the backdrop of the much hyped Bollywood movie, “The Kashmir Files”, CRPF Director General (DG) Kuldiep Singh on Thursday said that though the atmosphere is conducive for anyone to visit Kashmir but that call for Kashmiri Pandits has to be taken by them or “agencies”.
The chief of the country’s largest paramilitary force, which has deployed close to 65,000 personnel in the Kashmir Valley, said the CRPF will ensure that “whenever they are asked by the government to make the atmosphere conducive, they will do it”.
“The atmosphere is conducive for anyone to visit Kashmir, come and go. For Kashmiri Pandits, that call has to be taken by them or agencies. I don’t know that…,” Singh said, adding that “whatever the government asks us to do, we will do that”.
He also said that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will vacate the premises of those Kashmiri Pandits who come back to “claim” their ancestral properties in the Valley.
“If they (Kashmiri Pandits) come to claim their properties held by us, we have no objections. We will immediately seek another place from the government,” the DG said.
Asked if the about 3.25 lakh personnel strong force will hold an exclusive screening of “The Kashmir Files” movie for its staff, Singh said the CRPF has not taken a call on this as of now.
“Any film or drama that has motivational or inspirational content should be watched. We are a big force that is spread across…we will have to make arrangements. We will think about it,” he said.
The CRPF will hold its 83rd Raising Day on March 19 in Jammu where Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take the salute of the ceremonial parade and also address troops.
The minister will subsequently chair a multi-agency security meeting on various operations being conducted by them in the Union Territory.
DG said that the force, in Kashmir, has in its possession as many as 737 premises on which it has established camps and offices.
These include 333 government buildings, 265 private buildings, including those of Kashmiri Pandits, 71 pieces of agricultural land, 26 industrial units or factories, 30 hotels, eight orchards, two cinema halls, a school and a hospital.
Singh said the force has been transferred 524 kanals of land for creating its camps at 10 locations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir pays rent to owners in case of private properties, a senior CRPF officer said.
Acknowledging that there is “definitely a periodic spurt in terrorist incidents” in J&K, he said that these are immediately contained by security forces.
The months of December and January have been “very good” for security forces and their success rate has been high and there are times when a spurt is seen in terrorist violence.
“There has not been a spurt in terrorist incidents as it was being thought. There have been 2-3 incidents recently and yes, if you feel that these incidents are increasing, then yes definitely there is a spike but this spike has been contained immediately,” the DG said.
He was addressing a press conference ahead of the 83rd Raising Day of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to be celebrated on March 19 in Jammu.
He said that after the abrogation of Article 370 that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, “incidents of stone pelting have come down to nil now, and the number of foreign terrorists operating in Kashmir Valley too is very less”.
According to CRPF data, a total of 175 militants have been killed by it in the past year in Jammu and Kashmir, 183 have been apprehended and two have surrendered. Three CRPF personnel were killed while 61 injured between March 2021 and March 16 this year.
