Amid recent incidents of men in uniform being targeted by militants in Kashmir, Inspector General of the CRPF Ravi Deep Sahi has cautioned off-duty soldiers to to stay alert even when on vacation.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Sahi has issued the warning to all commanding officers in South Kashmir. “Yes, we have asked our men who are on leave or waiting to join new posting to stay extra alert.”
We have asked CRPF personnel who are on leave to take precautions while travelling to their relations or for some other purpose. They have also been asked to inform the commanding officers of respective units closer to their homes.Ravi Deep Sahi, Inspector-General, CRPF to Greater Kashmir
Sahi’s statement on Monday came a day after CRPF Constable Naseer Ahmad Rather was shot in his home in Pulwana district while he was waiting to join his new regiment, the 182 battalion CRPF.
Rather’s murder by unidentified assailants is one of an expanding list of security personnel being attacked to “instill fear”, according to the Inspector-General. His only advice to servicemen on leave is to remain aware of their surroundings to avoid hits like the one on Sunday.
Sahi also noted that going on leave is every trooper’s right and can’t be denied. “And once the paramilitary trooper is on leave, he can’t hide his identity.”
Two policemen, Constable Muhammad Saleem Shah and Javaid Dar, have already been attacked earlier in July, being abducted from their homes and found murdered in Kulgam district in south Kashmir.
June saw the seizing in broad daylight of Army soldier Auranzeb, whose bullet-ridden body was later found at Gusoo, Pulwama district.
2017 had also seen the deaths of four servicemen, including young Army officer Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, who was killed a month before his 23rd birthday.
(With inputs from Greater Kashmir)
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