NK Tripathi, CRPF DG
No political interference in war against terror,
says CRPF DG
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, NK Tripathi, DG (Special), CRPF, shares his thoughts on various issues confronting the paramilitary force in the state
NK Tripathi, DG (Special), CRPF, is a Madhya Pradesh cardre IPS officer. He is the brain behind community policing which he started in MP. He also opened a domestic violence preventive cell much before an Act prohibiting it came to being. Triapthi’s leadership has led the CRPF nail many militants.
The CRPF looks ahead at the challenging task of providing security on the Jammu-Srinagar highway as well besides its role in providing internal security in the state. Tripathi reveals how the CRPF, which has the highest number of troopers among all paramilitary forces in the world, is gearing up to the challenges.
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You had worked mainly with the civil police. How has been your transition from a police officer to the CRPF officer?
NK Tripathi (NKT): Policing by and large remains the same. In civil, one has to keep an eye on criminals and here on anti-social elements inimical to the country. But definitely, heading the CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir is far more challenging, especially because the CRPF is gradually taking over the internal security.
JJS: The CRPF was supposed to take control of the national highway between Jammu and Srinagar from January 15, but it hasn’t so far.
NKT: The process has begun. The Army, which was managing the highway, is training two battalions of the CPRF for the purpose. We will gradually take over. The job is not new for us. The CPRF has been providing security from Jawahar Tunnel to Srinagar. Training is required here to get acquainted with the area.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Being the largest paramilitary force in the world having 70,000 troops in the state, the CRPF is also faced with the problem of suicides and fratricide, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Whether remedial measures initiated by the CRPF yielded results?
NKT: CRPF troops are among the best in the world, but yes, we faced the problem. To find remedy to it, a number of measures have been initiated. After doing requisite spade work, we felt the need of having constant interaction between middle-level officers and jawans. I have personally taken it on a priority.
After initiating remedial measures in the form of increased interaction, recreational facilities, counselling session with psychologists, meditation and liberal leave, there is a steep decline in such incidents. Besides, we have also put up a rigorous system of rotational training for one-and-a-half month where trooper relieved from his routine duty gets time to recuperate as well.
Basically, the mindset has to be changed to deal with the problem, but of course, wherever the trooper or his family is involved in a legal dispute, we do take up the matter with the local administration.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): While fighting with militancy have you ever faced political interference?
NKT: Not at all. There is no political interference as far as war against militancy is concerned.
RKK: Is there a provision of awarding out of turn promotions to CRPF troopers who kill terrorists in the state?
NKT: Yes, we award them, but in rare cases. Usually, we avoid awarding out of turn promotions as it creates organisational problems. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t award our troopers for their exceptional services. In the CRPF, we have cash rewards, gallantry awards and DG’s disc and commendation letters to keep up their morale.
Archit Watts (AW): At this time, the CRPF is working in more than half of the states in the country while CRPF means Central Reserve Police Force. How is it a reserve force then?
NKT: Don’t go by the name. Go by the work done by the force and its reputation. In 1939, when this force was created its name was Crown Reserve Police and after the Independence, the name was changed to the Central Reserve Police Force. It is reserve only by name not by work or its nature.
RKK: The CRPF continues to occupy public infrastructure in the state, including schools, hospitals, colleges, lands and orchards. Is there any move to vacate it in the near future?
NKT: It is the sole responsibility of the state government to provide accommodation to the CRPF troopers and whatever is provided to us we take it. We are not in the public infrastructure by our own choice. However, in consultation with the government, we are now gradually in the process of vacating hospitals and schools. Since the CRPF has to stay here for a long, several acres of land is being acquired in Koota, Udhampur, near Kot Bhalwal, and other such lands being identified by the government so that CRPF troops could be located there permanently.
In Srinagar, we recently vacated public land and orchards, but still our troopers continue to occupy 20 schools and six small hospitals in the state.
RKK: What is your reaction to much-talked about surrender policy which Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is willing to implement?
NKT: Any method that reduces the number of militants and is a step towards normalcy is welcomed. Those who at one stage had gone astray and now want to join the mainstream should be given an opportunity. There is no harm in doing so. We have come across instances where youths who had picked up guns are now repenting and want to come back.
RKK: But who will guarantee that youths returning from PoK were domicile of the state. Under the garb of being domiciles of the state foreign mercenaries can also enter?
NKT: In such initiatives, some amount of risk is always there, but at the same time, modalities are yet to be worked out. Moreover, who knows what would be the reaction of Pakistan. As of now it’s just an idea.
DM: Don’t you think that without a complete intelligence network and a full-fledged intelligence wing, the CRPF would not be in a position to effectively launch anti-militancy operation?
NKT: I do agree that without a complete intelligence network, it is difficult to get feedback. After deployment of the CRPF in anti-militancy operations, we have been gradually inculcating our own sources among civilians. Secondly, the CRPF is gradually developing its intelligence wing also. It will take some time and for the time being, we have been taking services of intelligence wing of other forces. The intelligence wing of the local police is also sharing information with us.
DM: It is generally observed that CRPF men who were earlier deployed in the militancy plagued areas find it difficult to adjust themselves in the peaceful areas. Their behaviour does not change so there are complaints of misbehave by jawans. How do you deal with such a problem?
NKT: We have formulated a policy to permanently deploy companies. Those deployed in the militancy plagued areas would not be shifted to the peaceful areas. After permanently deployment, there would be change in the behaviour of the jawans.
Ashutosh Sharma: Do you exercise divergent approaches while tackling Naxalism and militancy in J&K?
NKT: Combating Naxalism is altogether a new assignment for us. Naxalites operate from deep forests and it’s a kind of jungle warfare with them. Then, Naxalites have been raising issues which are very dear to tribal and therefore, they enjoy local support also. The job of the CRPF in the Naxal-infested areas is to reinforce the authority of the government there. But the case in the J&K is completely different and therefore, we have a different approach here.
Sunaina Kaul: The security forces in the state are often accused of human rights violation and killing of civilians. How do you balance between dealing with unruly situations and observance of civil liberties of the people?
NKT: There is not a single human rights case against the CRPF. That speaks for itself about us. Moreover, as many as 1,500 CRPF men have got injured in stone pelting or other terrorism related incidents, yet we have never vent ire on civilians.
SK: BSF has inducted women battalions. When will we have CRPF women battalion here?
NKT: There are three companies of women in the Kashmir valley doing the duty of airport security. Besides, some women cops are posted in Jammu also mainly at railway station and airport. There is, however, a need to post more women companies in Jammu.
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