The Union Home Ministry has decided to thin out the presence of paramilitary forces on the Indo-Pakistan, Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Nepal border for their deployment during the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.
As many as 216 companies (29,160 personnel) will be withdrawn from these borders and deployed for poll-related duties. In addition, the CRPF, BSF, ITBP and SSB have also been directed to withdraw 1,294 companies (1,74,754 personnel) from various establishments during the forthcoming elections.
This besides, 250 companies of the CISF will also be roped in for deployment during the polls. A total of 1,760 companies of the paramilitary forces will be deployed for conducting the polls, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the Election Commission.
Finding it difficult to provide as many number of men, the paramilitary forces are going to deploy even recruits during the general elections.
The requirement of the paramilitary forces for the upcoming general elections in the first half of 2014 was discussed by the Union Home Ministry with the representatives of the paramilitary forces. The meetings were held under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary (Police II) of the Ministry with paramilitary representatives on December 2 and December 18.
"During the meeting, it emerged that the requirement of forces will be met by withdrawal of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel from various establishments of CAPFs including the battalions and thinning out Indo-Pak, Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders," Under Secretary of G-Desk RP Gupta wrote in a communication sent to the paramilitary forces on January 2 this year.
Keeping in view the past trends of deployment of paramilitary forces, there will be a huge requirement of security personnel for conducting the polls, the Ministry said in its note. Gupta also requested the forces to take appropriate action/measures to ensure the mobilisation of personnel for deployment during General Election 2014.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the biggest paramilitary force deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast and Naxal areas, will withdraw 536 companies (72,340 personnel) from various establishments for deployment during the general elections. likewise, the Border Security Force, deployed on Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh border besides Naxal areas, will withdraw 473 companies (63,849 officers and men) for the polling exercise.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police that guards the sensitive Indo-China border has been asked to withdraw 130 companies (17,580 personnel) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) will provide 155 companies (20,985 personnel) from its establishment. SSB guards the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border but has also been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for internal security duties.
Over and above these figures, the forces will provide 216 companies by thinning out their presence from the borders, details of which are being worked out.
While China has been indulging in aggressive posturing along the border with India, the Indo-Pak border has been active in terms of violence and infiltration of terrorists.
likewise, the Indo-Nepal border is active for movement terrorist hardware and movement of fake currency. Insurgents are active along the Indo-Bhutan border.
Security situation in Jammu and Kashmir continues to be alarming with 53 security personnel being killed last year by the Pak-sponsored terrorists. About 300 terrorists attempted to sneak in and about a 100 managed to enter the State.
The security scenario is estimated to further worsen once US forces start withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Minister of State for Home RPN Singh refused to answer a text message seeking his reaction on thinning out of the forces from the borders and if the same will compromise national security.
Paramilitary insiders are also worried as their leave will be curtailed and movement for training courses/sports meet will be suspended till the elections. The forces are already stretched out due to continuous deployment and shortages owing to low medical category personnel (lMC).
"The paramilitary bosses headed by IPS officers are seemingly unmindful of the hardships faced by the personnel. They could have worked out a better proposition for deployment during the elections by staggering the proposed electoral exercise," an insider said.