With an aim to fight militancy in Kashmir by encouraging local youth to join the Indian Armed forces the CRPF will form a new battalion in Kashmir.

BCCL/ Representational Image

The locally raised battalion which is modelled out of the Bastariya Battalion which comprises of tribals to fight Naxals in Bastar will have around 10,000 Kashmiri youth.

MoS Home Ministry, Hansraj Ahir, in a written reply, told Rajya Sabha that police are taking initiatives like sports events, community policing, counselling of miscreants to engage the locals with mainstream society.

AFP/ File

In order to generate employment for youth of J&K, the government has also approved additional recruitment of 10,000 SPOs, recruitment of around 5381 personnel in 5 new India Reserve Battalions, recruitment of 1079 personnel of CAPFs and Assam Rifles.

With more job opportunities, the government feel it can prevent Kashmiri youth taking to militancy and bring them back to the mainstream.