Latest news with #G.P.Singh
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BSF fortifies village guards initiative with arms training for Jammu border residents
Post Operation Sindoor, the Border Security Force has started arms training for village defence guards (VDGs) along the Jammu border with Pakistan. The civilians residing in border villages are being trained as the 'second line of defence' in the wake of infiltration by terrorists and terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior government official said on Thursday (May 29, 2025). The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also sanctioned the deployment of more than 52,000 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel for the Amarnath Yatra commencing on July 3. As many as 581 companies, each comprising 90-100 personnel, will be deployed for the security of the pilgrimage, which concludes on August 9, 2025. This will be one of highest deployments of security personnel in the area in at least the past three years. The yatra route is close to the Baisaran meadow in Kashmir Valley's Pahalgam, which witnessed a deadly terror attack on April 22, 2025 that left 26 civilians dead. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director-General G.P. Singh has been camping in J&K to review security preparedness. Home Minister Amit Shah is set to review the arrangements during his two-day visit to Jammu and Poonch on Thursday (May 29, 2025) and Friday (May 30, 2025). The VDG initiative was revived in 2022 in the Jammu belt after a gap of more than 20 years in the wake of a resurgence of terrorist activity in the region. In the past three years, more than 22 civilians have been killed in targeted terrorist attacks in the Jammu region, which includes the Chenab Valley, Kathua-Samba and areas south of the Pir Panjal comprising Rajouri and Poonch districts. The official told The Hindu that the VDGs can act as 'force multipliers' in cases of emergency and initially, training will be provided in villages that lie between the International Boundary (IB) and National Highway-44 in Jammu. Since 2022, the J&K Police have provided semi-automatic weapons to the VDGs to act in self-defence. When the scheme to arm civilians was first started in 1995 in 10 districts of Jammu, as members of the Hindu community were targeted and killed by terrorists, the civilians were provided with .303 rifles. 'The J&K Police have identified residents who are to be imparted training. They can be the first responders in case of terror attacks. Other than basic arms training, we are sharing tactical knowledge with the VDGs. In case of an encounter with terrorists, with whatever basic weapons they have, the civilians will be able to contain them and prevent their escape,' said the official. The BSF is organising 'firing practice' camps close to its border outposts so that the residents get confident in handling weapons. 'In case an infiltration takes place, the armed residents can act as eyes and ears on the ground. Refresher training will be conducted after a couple of months,' said the official, adding that this was the first time the BSF has been engaged. The CRPF and J&K Police had provided arms training to civilians in Rajouri and Poonch areas earlier. On Thursday (May 29, 2025), the BSF-Jammu posted on X, 'On 29 May, 2025, a three-day training program for VDGs began in Samba's border villages, Galar, Chak Faquira, Khanpur and Suchetpur. The program focusses on building skills to safeguard communities, boost situational awareness and counter security threats effectively.' On March 23, 2025, locals spotted unidentified terrorists in Kathua, a few kilometres from the border, following which security forces had launched an operation. Two terrorists and four policemen were killed after a fierce encounter in the Kathua forests on March 27, 2025. The 192-km International Boundary (IB) along Jammu is secured by the BSF while the 740-km Line of Control (LoC), the effective border in the Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu, is under the operational control of the Army. In the 1990s, around 30,000 weapons were distributed in various phases to civilians in Poonch, Rajouri, Samba, Doda and Kishtwar districts by the local administration when militancy was at its peak in J&K. The scheme was discontinued amid allegations of crimes, such as abduction and rape, committed by the members. A parliamentary committee was recently informed by the External Affairs Ministry that at least 24 terrorist-initiated incidents were reported in 2024 and more than 30 civilians were killed.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
31 Maoists killed in 21-day action at Karregutta hills: CRPF DG
Central and state security forces have eliminated at least 31 Maoists in a 21-day-long comprehensive operation carried out in dense forests around Karregutta hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, security officials said Wednesday (May 14, 2025), asserting it is the 'beginning of the end' of the Maoist menace. Addressing a press conference, CRPF Director General G.P. Singh and Chhattisgarh Director General of Police (DGP) Arun Dev Gautam said during the 21-day operation that started on April 21, the forces have recovered bodies of 31 Maoists, of which 28 have been identified. 'The eliminated Maoists identified so far carried a reward of ₹1.72 crore on their heads. The forces have also seized a massive haul of weapons and destroyed four technical units of Maoists that used to manufacture weapons and IEDs,' Vivekanand, Additional DG (Anti-Maoist operations) of Chhattisgarh Police, said. The officials said that after analysing facts and information during the operation, it can be safely believed that many senior Maoist leaders have either been killed or seriously injured during the encounters. 'Whatever we had set out to do, we have achieved more than that. We are confident and happy that this is the beginning of the end, and we will achieve the target of completely eliminating Maoist violence from the country by March 31, 2026,' Mr. Singh said in response to a question by PTI. The security forces have not been able to recover all the bodies or arrest the injured because of extremely difficult terrain, the officials said. The forces have recovered 35 weapons and a huge quantity of ammunition including automatic, semi-automatic and country-made weapons as well, they said. During the operation, 450 IEDs and a large number of detonators, explosive devices, besides 12,000 kg of other material, including medical supplies, electric equipment, Maoist literature, etc, have been seized, they said. The forces have destroyed four weapons-producing factories of Maoists where generators, drills, motors, and cutters were found. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) termed the operation as a historic breakthrough by security forces in the resolve to make the country Maoist free. Shah also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is determined to root out Maoism. 'I once again assure the countrymen that India is sure to be Maoist-free by March 31, 2026,' he wrote on 'X' in Hindi. The police have registered 17 FIRs related to the operation in which the help of the National Investigation Agency is also being sought, officials said. CRPF DG Mr. Singh said security forces are undertaking 'relentless and ruthless' operations to ensure that Maoism is eliminated by March 31, 2026. Mr. Singh said the anti-Maoist operation, which started in 2014, has been intensified and made more focused since 2019, with central paramilitary forces working 'shoulder to shoulder' with state police with a commitment to stamp out Maoism. Highlighting the effects of the operations on the ground, he said that in 2014, the number of the most Maoist-affected districts was 35, which has reduced to six in 2025 so far, while the number of Maoist-affected districts has come down from 126 to 18 during the period. 'The number of violent incidents in 2014 was 1,080, which has come down to 374 in 2024. The number of security personnel killed in Maoist violence in 2014 was 287, which has dipped to 19 in 2024. The number of Maoists eliminated during the period has reached 2089,' he said. As many as 928 Maoists have surrendered before security forces in 2024, while another 718 Maoists have surrendered so far this year, he said. Security forces have been trying to drive out Maoists from their hideouts and 'fill the vacuum'. In such areas, 320 new security camps have been established so far, besides 68-night landing helipads. 'We are committed to eliminating Maoism by March 31, 2026, through relentless and ruthless operations,' he said.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- The Hindu
Pahalgam terrorists yet to be caught; CRPF seeks explanation from officer who was the first responder to the attack
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has sought an explanation from the officer who was the first among the security forces to reach the Baisaran meadow in south Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, the spot that witnessed the killing of 26 people by terrorists, who are yet to be caught. CRPF Director General G.P. Singh sought the explanation from commandant Rajesh Kumar of the 116 battalion of CRPF who was deployed at a camp 7 km away. Pahalgam terror attack 2025: Full coverage Mr. Kumar with a team of 22 people had rushed to the scene of attack after being alerted about the massacre by the pony operators in the area. They rescued three to four injured victims. There was no presence of security personnel at the meadow when the attack took place. The terrorists, said to be four to six in number, were present for 25-30 minutes at the meadow, fenced from all sides before they fled the scene. Eyewitnesses and survivors said the security personnel reached after more than an hour. Also Read | Pahalgam terror attack: Tourists taken to meadow without police permission, government informs all-party meeting At an all-party meeting on April 24, a CRPF official had informed the members of Parliament that the meadow is accessible only by foot or pony and it took the CRPF personnel around 1 hour to reach the spot. The CRPF had said there was no permanent deployment of the force in the area where the attack took place, adding that tourists generally frequent the area during the Amarnath Yatra period, set to commence from July 3 and conclude on August 9. The CRPF official added that other security forces reached the spot after more than 1.5 hours. Also Read | Family of captured BSF jawan hopeful of swap with detained Pakistani ranger 'The commandant has been asked to explain the precautions taken if any to secure the route. A reply is awaited and future course of action will depend on that,' said a CRPF official. As per the unified command structure in the union territory, the CRPF works at the aid and advice of the Jammu and Kashmir police. Also Read | States all set to conduct mock drills; to submit report to Centre The all-party meeting was informed by the government that Baisaran was opened to public without police permission. As reported by The Hindu, a Jammu and Kashmir official said the Baisaran meadow was open to public throughout the year and was not among the regulated security places in the Valley. A contract to run the tourist site was handed over to a Bijbehara resident in August 2024 for ₹3 crore.
