Chandigarh, February 21

Following a suicide terrorist attack that killed over 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir last week, fresh standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the movement of security forces’ convoys in the troubled state will be issued shortly.

CRPF Inspector General from Jammu Zone, RK Yadav, said the SOPs are being modified and some rules, including restricting civilian traffic on the route, are being revised. “These would be implemented in a phased manner, but if civilians face problems due to this, we can consider other measures,” he said. Pointing out that such an attack had never been executed in the past, Yadav said there was no specific intelligence on the likely time, place or manner of attack or the type of materials to be used, available prior to the incident, though routine advisories kept coming in. “The force is introspecting on any possible lapses in following SOPs or security drills and will take remedial steps accordingly,” he said.

Yadav, who is also holding additional charge as the IG North-West Sector, was here to attend a memorial ceremony organised by the Para Military Forces Retired Officers Association to pay homage to the slain personnel. Besides CRPF officers and personnel, a large number of retired officers from all CAPFs attended the event.

The association’s president, AS Sidhu, a former IG with the CAPF said: “A number of demands pertaining to the welfare of serving and retired CAPFs are pending with the government. This includes grant of one rank-one pension.” — TNS