Agency
New Delhi: Rejecting suggestions that not following SOPs might have led to high casualties in Saturday’s ambush by militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore, CRPF on Monday said all laid down procedures were “absolutely” adhered to by its personnel.
It, however, said the security drill will be reviewed and convoys of the central paramilitary force will be provided bullet-proof protection while moving in the State.
CRPF Director General K Durga Prasad, during a press conference at the force’s headquarters here said his men, before laying down their lives, valiantly fought back the two terrorists and fired as many as 91 rounds.
“I really have no comments to make on that…but whatever SOPs are in position right now they have been followed and that’s the reason why I said that we will require and can have a look at them again.
“They (standard operating procedures) were absolutely followed,” he said when asked to comment on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement voicing doubt over whether the SOPs were followed properly by the bus-borne CRPF personnel.
He said the force will look at “tweaking” its security drills this time too, as always, and as a special measure, 3-feet high and 3mm thick bullet proof plates will be used on vehicles to provide them armoured protection, as was being done by the army.
Prasad added the force needs to do a “little bit more” of vehicle checking by deploying security check posts with JK police so that they can “detect” possible terrorists travelling undercover.
“We will have to conduct vehicle checks at more places and more frequently. The militants who came to attack were wearing normal black trousers and T-shirts and were not wearing usual ‘Kaftaans’ that they could be identified,” he added.
It has been decided that henceforth convoys will move in blocks of at least three vehicles so they are better protected.
Eight CRPF personnel were killed and 21 injured in the ambush by suspected LeT militants.
The DG praised his troops who were onboard the ill-fated bus. He said that three of his martyred men Head Constable Vir Singh fired 39 rounds from his AK series rifle, Constable Satish fired 32 rounds from his INSAS rifle and Head Constable P Yadav fired 20 bullets before succumbing to injuries.
Prasad said the terrorists, who attacked the bus from “very near” and fired as many as 200 bullets from AK rifles, were neutralised by CRPF troops who were onboard a bullet proof mobile bunker as part of their road opening task.
The DG said the entire ambush lasted between three and seven minutes.
Army’s 51 RR (Rashtriya Rifles) unit reached the spot after the incident got over, he said, adding all the 45 CRPF men in the bus were armed.
Prasad said five jawans injured in the attack out of 22 are in intensive care on ventilator and the condition of one jawan is “very critical.”
All the slain personnel have been accorded due last rites and the service compensation they deserve for sacrificing their lives in the line of duty has been released, he said.
He said some issues had cropped up over erection of the statue of Head Constable Vir Singh, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh’s Shikohabad, with locals opposing it.
The DG said, following the intervention of CRPF officials, the matter was settled and it was decided that a memorial gate would be constructed to pay tribute to Singh.
