BSF may replace CRPF in J&K

SRINAGAR: Is the Border Security Force (BSF) again going to replace the CRPF as the main force in counter-terrorism operations? This is the question being debated in the J&K government circles since the CRPF has been in the eye of storm due to their recent “pro-active” posturing to quell the public protest.

A strong resentment is brewing in the BSF against the premier force again being “dumped” to undertake a civilian task. The talk of the BSF returning to the streets of Jammu and Kashmir has started making rounds when the situation has worsened. It has further irked the force. Their grouse is that the good work done by them has been squandered by “mismanagement” at other levels.

Running out of ideas to counter the challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union home ministry seems to decided to assign greater role to the BSF.

Although, the possibility to bring in the BSF is propagated to dilute the resentment on the CRPF’s role, investigations in the security apparatus here say it is nothing but a jugglery of placements being planned by the officials concerned in the ministry.

Take this. Three battalions  of the BSF overseeing the Amarnath Yatra security have been drawn back after the yatra was over. They will replace certain CRPF formations in Jammu and Srinagar. An equal number of training battalions attached to regular formations in Jammu would also be detached and handed over duties being currently performed by the CRPF.