CRPF to get 100 new bulletproof vehicles for heightened security
What's the story
To provide soldiers better security during commute to operation sites and camps, the Indian government is purchasing 141 medium bulletproof vehicles (MBPVs) for the central paramilitary forces. Of these, 100 will be given to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to protect them from frequent highway attacks in conflicted areas. Here's more.
Details
First 20 vehicles likely to be deployed in two months
Chhattisgarh's Indo-Tibetan Border Police are slated to get 20 MBPVs, Sashastra Seema Bal 15, and Jammu and Kashmir's Central Industrial Security Force six. Rs. 100 crore have already allocated for the purchase of MBPVs; the first batch of 20 is expected in two months. Moreover, each vehicle can carry 10-12 personnel and withstand firing from small/AK series weapons, which are largely used by terrorists.
Recent attacks
Bulletproof vehicles can help bring down preventable soldier deaths
The unavailability of bulletproof vehicles forces jawans to travel in buses and tempos even in conflict-torn regions like Kashmir and Naxal-dominated areas in Chhattisgarh/Jharkhand/Odisha, putting their lives at risk. In June 2016, eight men were killed and 20 injured in Pulwama in a Lashkar-e-Taiba ambush. Within 2017, CRPF convoys were attacked at least thrice in Kashmir. The last, on November 1, left six injured.
Accusations
Home Affairs Ministry blames Ordnance Factory Board for vehicle shortage
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Parliament on Tuesday that despite sanctioning the Central Armed Police Forces 157 mine protected vehicles in the three years, they have been supplied only 13 so far. It blamed the Ordnance Factory Board, which comes under the Ministry of Defense, for unaccountability, delay and shortage, holding it responsible for putting the lives of soldiers at risk.