5 companies of Central forces land in Srinagar, more on way

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, February 23

Hours after the Jammu and Kashmir government sought additional paramilitary forces for the valley, about 50 companies were being airlifted to Srinagar. Of these, five companies landed in Srinagar on Saturday evening.

The state administration had late last night sought about 100 companies of the Central Armed Forces (CAFs) for Kashmir amidst massive crackdown on separatists groups including the Jamaat-e-Islami.  Following the crackdown, the Jammu and Kashmir police along with security forces were working round the clock to ensure deployment in sensitive areas of the state.

Responding quickly to the request, the Union home ministry ordered the airlifting of about 50 companies to the valley. Sources in the government revealed that the additional forces should start landing in Srinagar shortly.

There has been a considerable build-up of security forces across Jammu and Kashmir after last week's attack on CRPF jawans in Pulwama that left 40 personnel dead. With growing pressure to crackdown on terror groups, the Army had killed three Jaish terrorists including one believed to be a conspirator in the Pulwama attack.