Prelims: Jammu and Kashmir-Issue, CRPF, etc
Mains GS Paper III: Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Pulwama attack-The attack that happened on February 14, 2019, claimed the lives of 40 personnel who were a part of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), India’s largest paramilitary force.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF):
- It Refers to seven security forces in India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Assam Rifles (AR)
- Border Security Force (BSF)
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- National Security Guard (NSG)
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- Each of the seven has its own cadre of officers, but they are headed by officers of the Indian Police Service.
Responsibilities:
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
- It is one of the premier Central Armed Police Forces of India (under the Ministry of Home Affairs) for internal security.
Duties performed by the CRPF include:
- Crowd/ Riot control
- Counter Militancy/Insurgency operations
- Dealing with Left Wing Extremism
- Protection of VIPs and vital installations
- Checking environmental degradation and protection of local Flora and Fauna
- Fighting aggression during War time
- Participating in UN Peacekeeping Mission
- Rescue and Relief operations at the time of Natural Calamities
The internal security scenario in the country:
- It has been showing marginal improvement especially in insurgency-affected northeast India.
- ‘Insignificant improvement’ in left-wing extremism areas and also terrorist-affected Kashmir.
- The deinduction of the Indian Army has taken place, with the void filled mainly by the CRPF.
Issues faced by CRPF;
- Personnel of these forces continue to be tasked with carrying out hard duties and are overstretched without any rest or respite.
- Training becomes compromised.
- Lack of tactical skills adversely reflect in the operational capabilities, making them vulnerable to surreptitious attacks by anti-national forces.
Why is the central government compelled to assign a number of riskier tasks to the CRPF?
- The huge and continuous deployment of the regular army would invite adverse attention from the international press
- The tested but tired forces can attain and maintain the optimum level of performance needed only if the training and the morale of their personnel are taken care of.
Way Forward
- Without addressing the aspects, any induction or introduction of any potent weapons or technology would hardly bring about desired change.
- Feelings of discrimination vis-à-vis the regular armed forces (the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force) in matters that range from pension to service facilities such as Canteen Stores Department.
- The most important goal in observing Pulwama day should be to avoid a repeat of that dark day in 2019.
- The lessons learnt will have to be analyzed and corrective measures taken.
- For the government, it would be only appropriate and befitting to listen to the genuine grievances of the personnel of the forces concerned as public opinion seems to be mobilized in favor of the paramilitary forces.
- The morale of these personnel needs to be kept high: It would help the security environment of the nation if paramilitary personnel feel that they are being treated on a par with comparable defense forces personnel.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
The banning of ‘Jamaat-e – islami’ in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize influence of OGWs.(UPSC 2019) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
