India

CRPF to use bullet proof buses to counter militant ambushes

Road Opening Parties to be strengthened to ensure safe passage

 

FPK News Desk 

Srinagar: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has decided to use bullet proof buses for movement of its forces in the valley due to militant attacks. The CRPF lost 10 personnel last year in militant attacks.

In 2016, militants attacked CRPF conveys a number of times and to prevent loss of life from such attacks, the force has decided to use bullet proof vehicles and strengthen its Road Opening Parties (ROPs).

The demand for bullet proof buses grew after the deadly attack on CRPF in Pulwama last year in which the force lost eight men.

Sources in the CRPF said that 15 such buses for convey movement have already reached the valley.

“The demand for use of bullet proof buses was raised after last year’s deadly militant attack on CRPF in Pulwama in which eight CRPF men were killed,” said sources.

They said CRPF has also taken other measures to ensure no such attack takes place. “The measures include strengthening of ROPs to ensure safe passage of the convoys. Mobile bunkers have also been deployed in the sensitive areas along the highway to prevent such attacks,” sources said.

They said CRPF would soon replace all buses with new bullet proof buses to ensure safety of the forces.

Eight paramilitary CRPF personnel were killed and 22 others were injured when two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants ambushed a bus carrying CRPF men at Pampore on June 26, 2016. Both the militants were also killed during the exchange of fire.

Spokesperson, CRPF Kashmir (Operations), Suresh said that CRPF was procuring these buses to prevent causalities of forces in case there are any such attacks on the convoys by militants in future.

Suresh said militants carried out number of attacks on the convoys of CRPF and other forces last year. “We lost around ten persons in two such attacks last year,” he added.

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