CRPF to raise special CoBRA battalion for counter-terrorist operations in J&K: DG

The Central Reserve Police Force has decided to raise a special CoBRA battalion for counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir, 17 years after this jungle warfare unit was raised in the paramilitary to undertake operations in Naxal-affected states.

CRPF Director General (DG) Gyanendra Pratap Singh announced this during the 86th Raising Day event of the force held in this historic Madhya Pradesh town which is the ‘birthplace’ of about 3.25 lakh strong world’s largest paramilitary force.

The DG said the force was in the process of raising a new Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) for J&K as directed by Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shah officiated as the chief guest of the event. According to the CRPF chief, the futuristic unit will be used to enhance operational activities of the force in the UT.

A senior officer said the CoBRA unit will be tasked to undertake operations in the forested areas of Jammu and Kashmir including in the Jammu region where a number of terrorist incidents have taken place in the recent past.

In 2023, some CoBRA companies were sent to the Kashmir valley for training purposes but they were not deployed for any action.

At present, regular CRPF units and its special commando unit called ‘Kashmir valley quick action team (QAT)’ undertake counter-terrorist operations there.

CoBRA was raised in 2008-09, a time when Left Wing Extremism was at its peak in several states. By 2011, 10 CoBRA battalions were raised and the numbers continue till now. The J&K unit will be the 11th CoBRA battalion. The commandos