SRINAGAR: The central government is considering a major shift in its security strategy in Jammu and Kashmir by redeploying the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) from the hinterland and rural areas to the Line of Control (LoC), while handing over internal security responsibilities to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), according to senior government officials, as per multiple media reports.
Discussions between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence are underway, but no final decision has been taken yet. “Both the Defence Ministry and Home Ministry are having meetings over the issue. However, nothing has been decided so far,” said a government official familiar with the matter, reports ETV Bharat.
A senior CRPF official confirmed ongoing consultations and stated that a formal CRPF deputation for internal security will begin once a decision is finalised.
The move follows the recent deployment of three CRPF battalions in the Jammu region, taking over counter-terror duties from RR units in Udhampur and Kathua districts. Each battalion has an operational strength of around 800 personnel. According to sources, more such areas in Kashmir are likely to be transferred to CRPF control once the transition in Jammu is complete.
The proposed redeployment of RR units to the LoC is intended to bolster border security amid rising infiltration concerns, especially in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Investigations suggest that the attackers had infiltrated from across the border months before the incident.
The plan is reportedly part of a broader security blueprint that has been in the works for nearly two years, following what officials describe as a “significant improvement” in the region’s situation since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Security experts have largely welcomed the proposed handover. “It’s a good decision to depute CRPF for the overall internal security of JK. The Army (RR) is well trained for guarding India’s border with Pakistan, whereas the CRPF is well trained for ensuring internal security,” said SS Kothiyal, former Deputy Inspector General of the Border Security Force (BSF).
Internal security expert Prakash Singh suggested that the BSF should also be considered for the role, citing its historical presence in the region during the 1990s insurgency. The BSF, which was originally responsible for internal security in JK, was gradually replaced by CRPF around 2005 following recommendations made after the 1999 Kargil War.
The Rashtriya Rifles was established in the 1990s as a special counter-insurgency force composed of Indian Army personnel, specifically to tackle militancy in Kashmir Valley.
Data from the Home Ministry supports the rationale behind the planned transition, revealing a decline of over 70 per cent in terror-related activities in JK over the past five years. Incidents dropped from 286 in 2019 to just 40 by November 2024. The number of security personnel killed also saw a dramatic decrease from 77 in 2019 to only seven in 2024.
