Preparing for worst case scenario in Kashmir: CRPF ahead of state assembly polls

New Delhi: Central forces deployed to provide security during the forthcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir are being prepared to tackle the “worst” kind of crisis or attacks, the chief of country’s largest paramilitary CRPF said in New Delhi on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_1800003” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AP[/caption] Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Dilip Trivedi, however, ruled out the possibility of any “big” incident happening in the state during the five-phase polls scheduled to begin on 25 November. “As far as our task is concerned, we are taking no chances. We have asked our troops to be prepared for the worst case scenario. My view is that we do not anticipate any big thing (disruptive activity like attacks) during the polls,” Trivedi told reporters here on the eve of the forces’ 75th Raising Day. Trivedi added that despite this analysis they were not taking away the fact that there may be “very high-level attempts” to disturb the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The DG, whose force is the nodal agency for deployment of all central forces in Jammu and Kashmir, said the Assembly polls in 2002 when the PDP came to power, was a “watershed”. “We recently conducted both assembly and general elections in Chhattisgarh and I don’t think the forthcoming J&K polls are as tough as this Left Wing Extremism-hit area,” he said. The force has close to 60 battalions (about 60,000 personnel) in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir for security duties and in view of the upcoming polls, the central government has sent in a total of 381 companies of various central forces including BSF, ITBP, CISF and state police reserve units to the state for poll-related duties. The CRPF has the largest numbers in this pool with 111 companies. One company of these paramilitary forces has close to 100 personnel. DG Trivedi said he would not be able to comment if there will be requirement for more deployments of troops for security duties during the assembly polls. “This is not in my hands. But, if we are told to do so (send more battalions to JK) we will have to withdraw (units) from other places to send. The CRPF is totally committed for operations at present and hence we are not even able to give rotational training as of now,” he said. He also said his force undertook quick relief measures to help and “win the hearts” of the people of the state which was hit by devastating floods recently. PTI