NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding authorities’ claims that the 23-year-old armed conflict is on its lowest ebb ever, New Delhi is sending at least 10,000 paramilitary troopers of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to help maintain “internal security” of Kashmir.
The force, responsible for guarding the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders, may now find itself quelling protests in Jammu and Kashmir. This would, interestingly, run counter to the government’s promise of decreasing paramilitary footprint in the Valley.
SSB chief Arun Chaudhary on Monday told the media during SSB’s annual press conference that about 8,000-10,000 men would initially be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We are ready to go in Jammu and Kashmir. This will be a new work in the next year, when we send 8-10 battalions (8,000-10,000 men) to theses areas. We will work with CRPF and BSF there and extend internal security related duties,” he said.
The DG said the proposal has been “more or less” approved by the home ministry and the force is likely to be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir by February.
The SSB guards the 1,751 km Indo-Nepal and 699-km Indo-Bhutan borders.
(TNN)
