Jammu: Around 3,000 military troops and 400-500 special forces personnel have been deployed in the Jammu region, according to defense sources quoted by The Hindu. This deployment matches the existing Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) presence in the region.
The increased troop deployment comes amid rising militant attacks in Pir Panchal, Chenab and Jammu regions of the erstwhile state.
The Rashtriya Rifles (RR) division, consisting of ten battalions, was relocated to eastern Ladakh amid the stand-off with China, reducing troop presence in Jammu at a time when militancy is on the rise, the source said.
Each RR battalion typically includes between 15,000 and 20,000 troops, he said.
Militant activity has been shifting south of Pir Panchal with foreign militants infiltrating and operating in areas such as Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, and Bhaderwah before moving into the Kashmir Valley, he said.
“The challenging terrain of Pir Panjal, with elevations ranging from 3,000 to 14,500 feet and dense forest cover, adds to the difficulty of counter-terrorism operations,” the source said.
A significant issue is the lack of effective ground intelligence in Jammu south of Pir Panjal. Militants are using encrypted Chinese-made satellite phones, which are difficult to intercept and decrypt, he added.