Jammu: Thirteen additional battalions of counter insurgent force, Rashtriya Rifles
(RR) would be raised to deal with Pak-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,
Deputy Army Chief Lt Gen J B S Yadava said in Jammu on April 16.
"The force strength would be raised from 53 battalions at present to 66 battalions
by next two to three years to deal exclusively to counter cross-border terrorism,"
Gen Yadava,
who chaired a high-level conference of Director General and General Officer
Commanding of RR, told reporters.
Gen Yadava said that this was decided by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
some time back.
"The process of increase in security strength would start this year and by 2006-
2007, it would be completed," Yadava said, adding, by this process the entire J and
K would be
effectively covered by the RR.
He, however ruled out replacement of Border Security Force (BSF) from International
Border (IB) in Jammu sector by RR troops.
"BSF would continue to man IB," he said in reply to a question.
Regarding the disbanding of Special Operation Group (SOG), he said, "we were not
banking on the SOG of police at all in J and K. Therefore, there was no question of
any affect on RR."
"RR is a well organised and specialised force involved in counter-insurgency for
last 12 years and they are strong enough to carry on their own," the Dy Army Chief
said.
Asked whether al-Qaida militants were present in J and K, he said, "I have no
information about it as yet."
PTI
