CRPF brings in Sherpa vehicle for gun battles

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 18

To minimise losses during gunfights with militants, the CRPF is using the French-made anti-mine Renault Sherpa armoured vehicle in Kashmir on a trial basis.

The bulletproof vehicle has a camera atop, providing the outside view to four paramilitary personnel to fire at the target from inside.

“We are using it (Sherpa vehicle) on a trial basis. Our men used it in the recent gunfight at Karan Nagar and are sending the feedback to the top authorities,” said Rajesh Yadav, CRPF spokesman.

Yadav said the vehicle, one of the six versions of the Sherpa armoured vehicles manufactured by French company Renault Trucks Defense, would be used in different terrains to understand its effectiveness in counter-insurgency operations.

“The procurement of the armoured vehicle will depend on the feedback after using it in different scenarios,” he said.

The CRPF used the vehicle at Karan Nagar on February 13 during a 30-hour gunfight.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was operating very close to the house in which militants were hiding. “It didn’t suffer any damage during the gunfight,” they said.

Officials said the vehiclewas brought to Kashmir two months ago and was used during several operations in south Kashmir. They said the fully automatic vehicle could be driven at a speed of 120 km per hour. It could operate effectively in the dark, they said.