CoBRA Force may exit Kashmir as deployment clash stirs controversy within CRPF ranks

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is considering the withdrawal of its elite anti-Maoist Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) force from Jammu and Kashmir following objections from senior officials within the paramilitary force. CoBRA, known for its specialized training in countering Maoists in jungle warfare, was deployed for the first time in the Union territory in mid-September, this year. However, as per sources, dissent arose within the CRPF ranks regarding its deployment in Kashmir.  

According to the sources familiar with the contention, some senior officers withing CRPF’s ranks have argued that the unit's training and expertise were tailored for combating Maoists, rather than addressing the unique challenges presented in Kashmir. Notably, CRPF already has a unit dedicated for security in the Kashmir Valley known as the Valley Quik Action Team (QAT). 

CRPF's crucial role in internal security 

The CRPF, boasting a substantial force of over 3 lakh personnel, plays a pivotal role in internal security combat and has been extensively deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-terrorism operations. Notably, the force come under the purview of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, just like other paramilitary forces of the nation including NSG, CISF, SSB, BSF, ITBP and the Assam Rifles.

Earlier this year, a selective few CoBRA units were deployed to Kashmir from Bihar and Jharkhand to receive additional training. This decision was made in response to a decline in Maoist violence in these states. After three months of specialized training, the CoBRA force was deployed in the Union territory. However, this move faced opposition from certain senior officers who believed the Maoist threat remained significant. 

Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand 

Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand collectively accounted for more than 70 percent of Maoist violence in the country in recent years. In a tragic incident in April 2021, 22 security personnel lost their lives in an ambush by rebels within a forest in Chhattisgarh. This marked one of the most significant casualties suffered by security forces at the hands of Maoists since April 2017 when 25 CRPF personnel were killed in an ambush in Sukma, Chhattisgarh.

The CoBRA force, established in 2008 with a strength of 10,000 personnel, operates under the command and control of the CRPF to combat the Maoist insurgency. This elite force received specialized training in Maoist intelligence techniques and strategy. CoBRA teams have been deployed across regions affected by Maoist violence. 

Headquartered in the National Capital Region, the CoBRA force has battalion headquarters in each Naxalite-hit state, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The withdrawal of the CoBRA force from Jammu and Kashmir reflects the internal disagreement within the CRPF regarding its deployment in the region and the ongoing challenges of Maoist violence in other states.