This article needs additional citations for verification .(September 2022) |
CRPF Valley Quick Action Team | |
---|---|
Active | 2011[1] | –present
Country | India |
Agency | CRPF |
Type | Tactical Unit |
Role |
|
Operations jurisdiction | Kashmir Valley |
Part of | Srinagar Sector [2] |
Headquarters | Brein Nishat, Srinagar |
Common name | Valley QAT |
Abbreviation | QAT |
Structure | |
Sworn Troopers | 126 (2023) [3] |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Inspector General Ajay Kumar Yadav [2] |
Notable commanders | Inspector General Charu Sinha [4] |
Website | |
https://crpf.gov.in/srinagar-sector.html |
The CRPF Valley Quick Action Team, also known as Valley QAT, is an elite anti-terrorist unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) active in Jammu and Kashmir. The team conducts operations in the region with the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. [5] [6]
The Valley QAT was initially created in 2011 to escort and provide security for convoys and VIPs. In 2016, an attack on a BSF camp near the Srinagar International Airport ended with the team killing all the attackers. After the incident, the team was converted into a specialised urban combat operations force. [7] [1] Since then, the unit has conducted 42 missions leading to the deaths of 77 terrorists, including militant commanders, and has won numerous gallantry awards. [1] In 2021, women were allowed to begin serving with the unit. As of April 2023, the unit has 108 men and 18 women that serve in the Kashmir Valley as a part of the team. [3]
The Valley QAT consists of CRPF troopers who volunteer to serve with the unit. Interested volunteers who are deemed to match the physical fitness requirements for serving in the unit have to undergo a stringent selection process and specialised training. Those who pass the training are inducted into the unit and stationed in the valley. [8]
Troopers have to be under 35 years of age in order to serve with the unit. [9] Volunteers who are deemed to match the physical fitness requirements are first shortlisted and posted in a CRPF unit operating inside the Jammu and Kashmir to make themselves familiar with the region. They are then sent to the Counter Insurgency and Terrorism (CIAT) training centre in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, where they are trained in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency for a period of 7 weeks. [9] Additionally, the team is trained in high risk house intervention, raids, cordon and search missions, detection of improvised explosive devices, advanced weapons handling and close quarters combat in conditions similar to the urban terrain of the valley. By the end of their training, troopers are expected to effectively participate in urban counterterrorism operations, endure challenging physical conditions and have knowledge about the tactical aspects of counterterrorism operations. [9] Those who pass the training process are posted with a quick action team unit in the Kashmir Valley.
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Exfil High Cut Ballistic Helmet | Combat helmet | United States | In service. | |
PATKA (Model- 3) | Combat helmet | India | In service. | |
TATA Advanced Combat Helmet | Combat helmet | India | In service. | |
Glock | Semi-automatic pistol | Austria | Glock 17 and Glock 19 used as primary service pistols. | |
TAVOR X-95 | Assault Rifle/Carbine | Israel | Generally used for special operations and not for patrol. | |
Heckler & Koch MP5 | Submachine gun | West Germany | Standard submachine gun of the QAT. | |
JVPC | Submachine gun | India | Used along with MP5. | |
AR-M1 | Assault Rifle | Bulgaria | Modified versions used as service rifles along with its variants AR-M1F, AR-M1F41 and AR-M5F41 by some troopers. | |
TAR-21 | Assault Rifle | India | In service, used by some troopers as an alternative to X95 and AR-M1. | |
Heckler & Koch PSG1 | Sniper rifle | Germany | Status:Used along with Steyr SSG1. | |
Steyr SSG 69 | Sniper rifle | Germany | Used along with PSG1. | |
Vidhwansak | Anti-material rifle | India | Used for shooting through materials from long range in urban operations. | |
FN Minimi | Light machine gun | Belgium | 2nd gen version used for providing overwhelming firepower in close quarters combat. | |
Shivalik | Hand grenade | India | Used as a hand grenade and with rifles. | |
ARDE 40MM UBGL | Underbarrel grenade launcher (40mm) | India | Main underbarrel grenade launcher of the QAT. | |
Multi Grenade Launcher 40mm | Multi grenade launcher (40mm) | India South Africa | Semi-automatic six shot 40mm x 46mm low velocity grenade launcher, with extended range used in counterterrorism operations. | |
Carl Gustav M3/M4 | Recoilless rifle (84mm) | India Sweden | M3 and M4 variants used for urban anti-terrorism operations. | |
Vehicle | Origin | Function |
---|---|---|
Sherpa Light | France | Armored Transport Vehicle |
Mahindra Marksman | India | |
Ashok Leyland Critical Response Vehicle | India |
Deputy Commandant Rahul Mathur was awarded the Kirti Chakra for his bravery during anti-terrorism operations while serving with the QAT. [10] [11]
Anirudh Pratap Singh was presented with the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery during a counterterrorism operation conducted by the QAT. [12]
President Droupadi Murmu presented Shaurya Chakra to Satendra Singh and Amit Kumar for their bravery during counterterrorism operations conducted on 28th June 2021 and 12th October 2020 by the QAT. [13]
Naresh Kumar and Loukrakpam Ibomcha Singh have each received 7 and 4 gallantry medals, respectively, for their work while serving in the unit.
The unit was awarded 15 gallantry medals during India's 2020 Independence Day celebrations. [14]
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is an internal security and combat force in India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India. It is one among the Central Armed Police Forces. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter-insurgency. It is composed of Central Reserve Police Force (Regular) and Central Reserve Police Force (Auxiliary).
The Ashoka Chakra is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel.
Para (Special Forces), also known as Para Commandos or Para (SF) Commandos, is a group of special forces battalions of the Parachute Regiment in the Indian Army. These units specialize in various roles including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-insurgency and direct action.
The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in February 2004 and has a current strength of over 1500 personnel. The unit derives its name from Garuda, a Hindu God.
The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regimental center is in Srinagar's Airport Complex at Awantipora with a winter setup near Jammu. Its regimental insignia consists of a pair of crossed rifles. The regiment mostly consists of volunteers from the state of Jammu & Kashmir and ethnic groups from the state. The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is considered to be one of the most decorated regiment of the Indian army having won 1 Param Veer Chakra and 3 Ashok Chakra. Naib Subedar Chuni Lal of the 8th battalion Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is one of the most decorated personnel of the Indian Army.
Ghatak Platoons are special operations capable reconnaissance platoons present in every infantry battalion of the Indian Army. Ghatak is a Sanskrit word meaning "killer" or "lethal". Their name was given to them by General Bipin Chandra Joshi. They act as shock troops and spearhead assaults ahead of the battalion.
Lieutenant Triveni Singh was an Officer of the Indian Army from 5 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra Award, India's highest peacetime award, for his actions in the terrorist attack on Jammu Railway Station on January 2, 2004.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police or JKP is the law enforcement agency of the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir of disputed Kashmir region. JKP was established in 1873 and has primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, AC was a Ghatak Platoon Commander of 15 Maratha Light Infantry regiment in the Indian Army.
Major Dinesh Raghu Raman, AC was an Indian military officer with the 19th Battalion of the Jat Regiment who was posthumously awarded India's highest peacetime military decoration Ashoka Chakra.
Captain Arun Singh Jasrotia, AC, SM was an Indian military officer in the 9 Para. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peace time military decoration in India. He was also recipient of Sena Medal.
Subedar Sujjan Singh Yadav, AC was an Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) with the 13th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment. He was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award Ashoka Chakra posthumously for his action in Operation Rakshak in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir.
Captain Sanjay Chauhan, SC, was an Indian Army officer of the 16 Rajputana Rifles who was killed in action in 1994, leading an operation against foreign terrorists in North Kashmir. He was posthumously decorated with the Shaurya Chakra, India's third-highest decoration for conspicuous gallantry in peacetime. He was born in a Rajput family. Capt Chauhan was killed along with his three teammates on 28 October 1994, in the Lacchimpora village of Jammu and Kashmir. At the time, the Kashmir insurgency was at its peak, as foreign terrorists entered India from the other side of the Line of Control with the objective of destabilizing the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir include security operations such as Operation Rakshak, which began in 1990, Operation Sarp Vinash in 2003 and Operation Randori Behak in 2020. Other operations include humanitarian missions such as Operation Megh Rahat and operations with a social aim such as Operation Goodwill and Operation Calm Down. The Indian Army works in tandem with the other arms of the Indian Armed Forces and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir such as during Mission Sahayata or joint operations.
Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, AC, SM & Bar was an Indian Army soldier and a recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration.At the time of his death, he was serving with an auxiliary battalion of the army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment, the 162nd Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army .He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his actions during a counterterrorism operation in which his unit was attached with the 34th Rashtriya Rifles battalion. He was the first recipient of the Ashok Chakra from Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Armed Forces in Jammu and Kashmir encompass the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, tri-service units such as the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD), and paramilitary organisations of the Central Armed Police Forces such as the Border Security Force, the Central Reserve Police Force, the Sashastra Seema Bal and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Each three wings of India's military have their special forces deployed in the region including Indian Army's Para SF, the Indian Navy MARCOS and the Indian Air Force's Garud Commando Force. Apart from this, there is the elite police anti-insurgency force in the region, the Special Operations Group, of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Naresh Kumar is an officer in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of India. On 14 August 2020 he was awarded his seventh police medal for gallantry, the most ever received by a single officer in the force's history.
Assistant Sub-inspector Babu Ram, AC (1972–2020) was a Police Officer of the Special Operations Group (SOG) Srinagar, who was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra.
Major Anuj Sood, SC was an Indian Army Officer who received the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. He was a member of the 19th Battalion, Brigade of Guards and 21st Rashtriya Rifles Battalion. He was martyred in action while serving with the latter in Handwara, Jammu and Kashmir.
Assistant Commandant Amit Kumar Mehlan is a serving Central Reserve Police Force officer of the 2010 batch of the Union Public Service Commission. President Droupadi Murmu presented Shaurya Chakra to Amit Kumar for displaying extreme valour and leadership skills in evacuating his injured teammates and eliminating terrorists during an operation in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.