CRPF Valley QAT

CRPF Valley Quick Action Team
Quick Action Team Chest Insignia
Active	2011 (2011)–present [1]
Country	India
Agency	CRPF
Type	Tactical Unit
Role	Counter terrorism and Counter-insurgency in Urban settings Direct action Covert operations Close Quarters Combat Cordon and Search Room Intervention
Operations jurisdiction	Kashmir Valley
Headquarters	Brein Nishat, Srinagar
Common name	Valley QAT
Structure
Active personnel	126 (2023) [2]
Commanders
Current commander	Inspector General Ajay Kumar Yadav [3]
Notable commanders	Inspector General Charu Sinha [4]

The CRPF Valley Quick Action Team is a tactical unit of the Central Reserve Police Force, specialized in counter-terrorism in urban areas. It is active in the city of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. It was raised specifically to counter and eliminate millitants in the city of Srinagar. It conducts operations with the Jammu and Kashmir Police. ^{[5] [6]}

History

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. ^[2]

Personnel

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]

Training

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.

Equipment

Weapons and protective gear

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.

Vehicles

Vehicle	Origin	Function
Sherpa Light	France	Armored Transport Vehicle
Mahindra Marksman	India
Ashok Leyland Critical Response Vehicle	India

Gallantry Awards

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 28 June 2021 and 12 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]

References

1. Sharma, Ashish (17 February 2023). "Valiantly in the Valley". Open .
2. Mondal, Manisha; Bhardwaj, Urjita (30 April 2023). "Sindoor, bindi, AK-47—an intimate look at CRPF women's lives in J&K, Manipur, Chhattisgarh". The Print .
3. "Srinagar Sector". crpf.gov.in.
4. "Who is Charu Sinha, the first female IPS officer to head CRPF's Srinagar sector?". Times of India . September 2020.
5. "CRPF's elite anti-terrorist unit 'Valley QAT' to have women commandos soon". Zee News. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
6. "Elite 'Valley QAT' of CRPF responsible for eliminating terrorists in J-K, to have women commandos soon". ANI News. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
7. "Pampore attack: Syed Salahuddin's son among those rescued from JKEDI". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
8. Tiwari, Ashish (13 July 2022). "All About CRPF's Elite Anti-Terrorist Unit 'Valley QAT' And How To Become A QAT Commando". SSBCrackExams - India's No.1 Learning Platform For Defence Aspirants. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
9. https://crpf.gov.in/writereaddata/images/pdf/907092018.pdf
10. "Hero's Detail". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
11. President Kovind presents Kirti Chakra to Shri Rahul Mathur, Deputy Commandant, CRPF, 23 November 2021, retrieved 8 June 2022
12. President Kovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Shri Anirudh Pratap Singh, 31 May 2022, retrieved 8 June 2022
13. "Defence Investiture Ceremony, President of India" (PDF). May 2023. pp. 2–3.
14. "CRPF's elite anti-terrorist unit 'Valley QAT' to have women commandos soon". Zee News. Retrieved 27 June 2023.