Government allows air travel for security forces deployed in Kashmir

New Delhi : CRPF jawans deployed in Jammu and Kashmir can now board commercial flights while they go on leave or join back duty. The Union Home Ministry approved entitlement of air travel for paramilitary jawans on the relevant sectors. This will benefit about 7.80 lakh paramilitary jawans, a release by the home ministry said.

The decision comes a week after a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist slammed his explosive-laden car into the convoy of CRPF jawans, martyring at least 40.

The home ministry order said that it “has approved the entitlement of air travel on Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to all the personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)”.

The jawans “in the ranks of Constable, Head Constable and ASI who were otherwise not eligible earlier”, can now fly in commercial flights “while going on leave from Jammu and Kashmir to home and return.”

Minister of State for Home Affairs Jitendra Singh called it a path breaking decision. “This is a path-breaking decision. It’s going to be a huge relief and also a show of respect to our security personnel,” news agency ANI quoted Singh as saying.