Govt approves air travel for paramilitary forces in J&K

The Union home ministry on Thursday approved air travel for all personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) between Delhi and Srinagar, and Jammu and Srinagar on official duty, transfer or on leave.

The move comes in the wake of at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel being killed when a suicide bomber attacked a convoy of the paramilitary force on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. The convoy of 78 trucks was transporting 2,547 CRPF personnel from Srinagar to Jammu.

“The move will benefit approximately 7.8 lakh personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces in the ranks of constable and head constable who were otherwise not eligible earlier,” the ministry said. The CAPF consists of the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, CRPF, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, and the National Security Guard.

This is in addition to the existing air courier services that have been extended in all sectors to cut down on the travel time of paramilitary personnel, the ministry said.

“The number of flights were further extended in December 2018. In addition, air support is provided from IAF as and when required,” it said.

The move comes even as the Indian Army, the state police and the CRPF have stepped up vigil along the highway in the wake of the terror strike.