The Central Reserve Police force will raise nearly 50 more battalions over the next two years to completely take over counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir valley by March 2004 and within the country by 2005, a senior official said in Jammu on Friday.
The CRPF has the distinction of effectively fighting and reducing insurgency in Punjab and West Bengal, Additional Director General (CRPF) Kamaljeet Singh said.
At present, it is replacing the Border Security Force in the Kashmir valley in a phased manner. So far, six CRPF battalions have replaced the BSF in Srinagar.
"At present, we have 152 battalions but by March 2005, the number would reach 200," the ADG disclosed.