Srinagar: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is preparing to assume counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism (CI/CT) responsibilities currently handled by the Army at several strategically important locations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur and Kathua districts, according to security sources.
A communication issued to the force has directed the CRPF to make preparations for the replacement of Army personnel deployed in designated CI/CT roles and to expand its operational footprint in the area.
The transition is expected to cover 21 locations, described by officials as “hyper-sensitive” and prioritised under an existing deployment plan. The requirement of personnel is currently being assessed, with the formalities and troop deployment expected to be completed shortly.
The proposed restructuring will also involve the CRPF’s specialised CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) units. According to an official familiar with the plan, nine CoBRA teams will remain deployed, while another nine teams will undergo training. Their subsequent operational deployment will be adjusted according to emerging security requirements.
The move is part of a broader effort to reorganise and streamline the deployment of forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the Jammu region.
According to an exclusive report by News18, Jammu and Kashmir is headed for significant structural changes in the deployment of security forces, including a phased reduction of Rashtriya Rifles personnel from certain areas and a greater role for the CRPF.
Sources cited in the report said a phase-wise drawdown of Rashtriya Rifles troops had been discussed and is expected to be implemented progressively. However, the changes do not amount to a complete withdrawal of the Rashtriya Rifles from Jammu and Kashmir.
A significant presence of the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles is expected to remain in the Union Territory even after the restructuring, with the CRPF taking on a larger share of designated CI/CT duties in areas where the transition is planned.
The latest move is therefore being viewed as part of a wider recalibration of the security grid in the Jammu region, with force deployment being aligned more closely with operational requirements and the evolving counter-insurgency environment.