Valiantly in the Valley

THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR (J&K) Police received inputs on the whereabouts of Salim Parray of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on January 3. They swung into action. The Special Operation Group (SOG), along with the Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) Valley Quick Action Team (Valley QAT) commandos launched a joint operation. Parray was a notorious murderer of civilians whom he killed brutally and in cold blood. He was also LeT's main conduit for intelligence and organising support for operations in the Valley. He was a big catch. Active in the Hajin area of Srinagar, Parray nearly managed to use a mob at Shalimar Bagh as cover for his escape. But for his fleeting eye contact with one Valley QAT commando, who almost instinctively took a shot, Parray fell without a single civilian being hit.

Almost exactly four years after the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019, Open was provided exclusive access to move with the Valley QAT commandos and see their intensive training to tell the story of how several such operations since 2016 have reduced the imprint of terror without disrupting life in the Valley, ensuring people walk the streets and do business with a sense of safety.

Valley QAT carries out various drills on a routine basis that include conducting catch (cordon) and search operations. Among the country's top anti-terror commandos, Valley QAT works in tandem with the Indian Army and J&K Police.

The commando group was formed in 2011 and draws highly skilled and trained soldiers from various units of CRPF and is among the first responders to any major terrorist attack in Srinagar city.

Specialising in urban warfare, the commandos counter terrorists who use civilian and civil property as shields. Working and training hard, the commandos neutralise the advantages terrorists have sought to gain in urban landscapes. An understanding of population distribution and use of civilian assets is paramount. The safety of civilians is the utmost priority and makes operations more challenging.

Recently, women have also been inducted into Valley QAT. Also, to garner the support of the locals, Kashmiri youth are encouraged to join the elite force to undertake tough operations in treacherous conditions. With women commandos increasingly deployed, there is a growing trust between the forces and the locals. In 2020, for the first time, a woman took command when Charu Sinha was appointed inspector general of CRPF for the Srinagar Sector. She was earlier dealing with Naxalites in Bihar.

At the request of soldiers, Sinha allowed wearing of shoe covers during search operations. Kashmiri houses have wall-to-wall carpeting and shoe covers prevent the carpets from being becoming dirty and mud-stained.

The latest anti-terror operation, CASO, took place in the Noor Bagh area of Srinagar on February 10. It was carried out by Valley QAT commandos donning a new specially designed digital camouflage uniform, equipped with state-of-the-art X95 assault rifles and AK-47s.

Valley QAT has the unique distinction of zero civilian casualties and collateral damage in 42 operations that led to the liquidation of 77 terrorists. The commandos' tireless services have won them many accolades. Valley QAT has won the most Shaurya and Kirti Chakras in recent times. On the 75th Independence Day, the unit won 15 gallantry medals.