Rajouri killings: CRPF to send 1,800 more troops for anti-terror ops in J&K

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will send additional 18 companies to Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of recent terror attacks in Rajouri district in which six civlians were killed.

The additional 1,800 troops will be deployed largely in Poonch and Rajouri districts to intensify anti-terror operations in the region. Nine companies have already reached Rajouri and the remaining troops will reach by tonight, according to people aware of the matter.

The security forces will conduct counter-terrorism operations south of Pir Panjal Range, people cited above said.

The move comes days after six civilians, including a four-year-old child, were killed in terror attacks at Dhangri, a Hindu-dominated village in Rajouri district. Deepak Kumar, 23, Satish Kumar, 45, Pritam Pal, 56, and Shiv Pal, 32, were killed when unidentified terrorists fired on them on Sunday. Vihan Sharma, 4 and Samiksha Sharma, 16, were killed a day later when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off near the scene of the firing.

Residents accused police of lapses and said the terrorists planted the IED on Sunday but they missed it during the search operation.

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha visited Dhangri on Monday and ₹10 lakh compensation and jobs for the kin of those killed and ₹1 lakh each to the 15 people who were injured in the attacks.

“This is a very painful and unfortunate incident. It is the Centre’s and J&K government’s resolve to wipe out terrorism. Though deaths cannot be compensated but I assure every possible help to the families of those killed. We have given full freedom to the security forces and I want to assure the people the perpetrators of this attack will be punished soon,” he said.