Centre approves all women battalion in J&K to deal with stone pelters

Mukesh Ranjan  

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27

The Centre on Thursday approved raising an all women battalion in the J&K Police to primarily deal with stone pelters in the Valley and sanctioned fund for the same.

Around 1,000 women will be hired.

The policewomen will be part of the five India Reserved Battalions (IRBs), which the Central Government has already sanctioned.

This was decided here at meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh to review the Prime Minister Relief Package for Jammy and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of Ministry of Home Affairs and the J&K Government.

Sources said the battalion would be raised by J&K Police but the fund for the same would be made available by the Centre.

The proposal to this effect had come from the J&K Government in its bid to deal with stone pelters.

Sources also confirmed that the state police have already received 6000 applications for joining the all women battalion of the IRB.