In order to avoid terrorist attacks like Pulwama, the central government has decided to provide the facility of MI-17 helicopter on leave to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel deployed in Kashmir. To avoid IED blasts, the personnel going on leave from Kashmir will be released from MI-17 to the nearest destination.
Although it is not clear how far this facility will be available, but officials claim that the facility will probably be extended to Jammu or Srinagar Airport. The Union Home Ministry has implemented this decision and CRPF also issued an order in this regard on Thursday.
The CRPF letter said that in view of the threat of Magnetic IEDs and RCIEDs, it was decided to take the troops through an MI-17 helicopter. This facility will be made available to the soldiers three days a week. The CRPF has also issued a format for the personnel to avail of the helicopter facility.
On 14 February 2019, Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed targeted the CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway near Pulwama in south Kashmir. 40 soldiers were killed in this attack. This new facility will help protect the security forces from the risk of attack while travelling by road.
The letter said that the soldiers would have to inform their unit to avail the helicopter facility and a request in this regard would have to be given a day in advance. This demand was long overdue, which is now implemented. Now the jawans and officers will be able to travel easily three times a week through BSF MI-17.
