Pulwama attack aftermath: Home Ministry approves air travel for jawans on Jammu-Srinagar-Delhi route

Jawans of CRPF and other paramilitary forces can now take commercial flights to join duty or while going on leave. (PTI/File)

In a big convoy rule change after the Pulwama terror attack, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Thursday issued an order approving the entitlement of air travel on the Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu routes. Jawans of CRPF and other paramilitary forces can now take commercial flights to join duty or while going on leave. The decision has come in the wake of one of the worst terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama where 40 CRPF jawans were killed on January 14.

“The decision will immediately benefit approximately 780,000 personnel of CAPFs in the ranks of Constable, Head Constable and ASI who were otherwise not eligible earlier. This includes journey on duty and journey on leave, i.e while going on leave from J&K to home and return,” MHA said.

In wake of #PulwamaTerrorAttack, @HMOIndia entitles CAPF jawans of @BSF_India, @crpfindia, @ITBP_official, to travel by Air on Srinagar-Jammu- Delhi route. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/8sPgF0vGlr

— rahul tripathi (@rahultripathi) February 21, 2019

The order further stated, “This facility is in addition to the existing air courier services for CAPFs that have been steadily extended in all sectors by the MHA to help the jawans cut down on travel time during their journey to and fro from home on leave.”

“In J&K Sector, it may be recalled that Air Courier Service for CAPFs jawans was approved for the Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu sector. Subsequently, the Service was extended to cover 1) Delhi-Jammu, 2) Jammu-Srinagar, 3) Srinagar-Jammu and 3) Jammu-Delhi sector in Dec 2017. The number of flights were further extended in December 2018. In addition, air support is provided from Indian Air Force as and when required.”