Government to consider helicopter services for CRPF in J&K: Rajnath Singh

The Centre will consider operating helicopter services for CRPF personnel serving in Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate movement of troops, home minister Rajnath Singh said today.

The home minister, who is on a four-day visit to the state, was addressing a sainik sammelan (gathering) of the CRPFin the state's Anantnag district, about 52 kilometres from Srinagar.

"We are ready to give more facilities to our CAPF personnel. Government will consider helicopter services for CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

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Rajnath Singh said he was also working towards enhancing the monetary benefits to Rs one crore for families of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel killed in the line of duty.

"It is my aim to provide at least Rs one crore to the families of our martyrs from CAPFs," he told the CRPF personnel.

He paid tributes to the sacrifice made by ASI Abdul Rasheed and constable Imtiyaz who were killed in militant attacks in south Kashmir recently.

"Their supreme sacrifices have been made for Kashmir. We are proud of the police personnel. You are working in extremely challenging conditions here. I do not have words to praise the bravery of our brave personnel from Jammu and Kashmir police. Even the Prime Minister has praised your courage," he said.

Underlining the priority attached by the Centre to Kashmir, Rajnath Singh said no other home minister had ever visited the state so frequently.

"I have come to the state the fifth time within an year or so," he said.

The home minister said he had come with an open mind and was willing to interact with anyone who wanted to help in resolving the problems facing Kashmir.

During an interaction with police personnel in Anantnag earlier in the day, the home ministersaid the government has allocated funds for the purchase of bullet-proof vehicles for police personnel posted in the state.

Lauding policemen for working in extremely challenging conditions in the Valley, he said the government has approved funds for opening a trauma centre for police personnel postedin Kashmir.

"We have allocated funds for purchase of bullet-proof vehicles for Jammu and Kashmir police," Rajnath Singh said.

His announcement comes in the wake of the killing of six police personnel, including SHO Feroz Ahmad, in Anantnagon June 16. The slain SHO had asked for a bullet-proof vehicle in view of the danger posed by militants in south Kashmir, but was not provided with one.

Rajnath Singh said the government has launched 'Bharat Ke Veer' programme to support the families of the martyrs.

"The nation is supporting the courage of our security forces. We are proud of our CRPF personnel.Courage cannot be purchased from any market and you are born with unassailable and unmatched courage," he added.

As per present compensation norms, the family of a martyredsoldier of the Central Armed Police Forces, including theCRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, SSB, NSG and Assam Rifles, gets about Rs 60-70 lakh.

The Home Minister later presented a memento the CRPF team which took part in operations in Pulwama recently.

This was followed by a meeting with a National Conference delegation headed by former chief ministerOmar Abdullah in Srinagar.