Agencies
New Delhi, Oct 18: CRPF found that most of them were hit either on the face, neck or legs during the mass scale stone pelting incidents. CRPF found that most of them were hit either on the face, neck or legs during the mass scale stone pelting incidents.
Following large scale injuries to its men in last four months due to stone pelting and other violent incidents since July 8 after the killing of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, CRPF has now decided to introduce high quality "full body protectors" to bring down injuries to its men in the troubled state. As per report, for starters, more than 15,000 "full body protectors" are being ordered, enough to shield jawans deployed on the ground from receiving any injury in the head, face, legs, chest or arms. These special body armors will reach the troops soon, said officials.
CRPF found that most of them were hit either on the face, neck or legs during the mass scale stone pelting incidents. The CRPF troops, along with J&K police, are the ones who face the brunt of violent protests every day in the valley. Many jawans had to undergo surgery on the head or face due to grave injuries sustained during stone pelting attacks. The whole gear will include a sweat absorbing unbreakable soft plastic chest protector, elbow pad, shin guard, upper arm protector, shoulder pad which will secure both shoulder and neck, groin protector, forearm guard and thigh guard while head and face will be secured by helmets.
CRPF already has a few thousand 'full body protectors' in J&K but they weren't enough, said officer. The force has 60 battalions and an additional 130 companies- a total of around 70,000 troops-presently deployed in the violence-hit valley. Officials said that 15,000 full body protectors will be able to meet the demand as of now for most of the men who are deployed on the ground. "At any given point of time, 30 to 40 men are on the ground in one unit and 15,000 protectors are more than enough for districts in Kashmir," the officials said. |
