450 CISF personnel will be deployed in Srinagar

Outer perimeter security to remain with CRPF and J&K police

Agencies

New Delhi, February 7:

The Union home ministry has expedited the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at airports in Jammu, Srinagar and Leh, with top priority being given for the first two due to higher sensitivity.

Earlier, the security at the airports was jointly handled by J&K Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

As of now, while 300 CISF personnel will be deployed in Jammu, 450 personnel will be deployed in Srinagar and 200 at the Leh airport. In Srinagar, the CISF would only manage the cargo, anti-hijack and scanning and tarmac units.

The outer perimeter security would continue to remain with the CRPF and the J&K police.

While all three airports are “civil enclave” airports, they are also in the “highly-sensitive” category with defence installations in the vicinity.

The deployment of CISF — unlike other paramilitary forces — is not confined to any platoon or company, officials said, adding that “a survey had been done and deployment was taking place on a need basis.”

The move comes a month after Davinder Singh, a deputy superintendent with J&K police, was suspended and apprehended for alleged terror links. Singh formerly held charge at Srinagar airport’s anti-hijack unit. His arrest led the Centre to pull out the J&K police and deploy CISF across Jammu, Srinagar and Leh airports.

“After Davinder Singh’s case, the deployment of CISF has been expedited at the Jammu, Srinagar and Leh airports. Induction formalities have already begun and deployment will be complete soon,” said a senior CISF official, seeking anonymity.

Late last month, a special court in had sent Singh and three others to 15-days National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody.

The suspended DSP was also quizzed by the NIA for allegedly helping terrorists travel out of the Valley. The probe agency also conducted searches at the cop’s residence in Srinagar’s Indira Nagar.

The NIA is also probing Singh’s involvement with Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and other operational and active terrorists groups. He was arrested by the J&K police in January month when he was travelling with militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen in the region’s Kulgam district.