CRPF invading homes, filming women and girls; spokesman calls it a "familiarization program"

CRPF conducting survey in Handwara: Residents


Familiarization Program Meant For Developing Contact With People: PRO Tripathi
Greater Kashmir Sept 26
SHAHID RAFIQ

Handwara, Sept 25: The Central Resereve Police Force have started a survey in north Kashmir's Handwara township which the locals allege is nothing short of harassment.
Residents of Banday Mohalla and Ganai Mohalla in the border town told Greater Kashmir that CRPF troopers enter their houses without permission when the male members are out for work.
“They ask questions how many men and women are in your family, what is their age, what is the source of income and how did you accumulate such property? And, after questioning they warn of dire consequences if any of us is found in a demonstration,” said Irfan Sofi (name changed on request.)
Zoona Begum, a middle aged woman, said that many CRPF troopers entered her house in the main market of Handwara yesterday. “My daughters were very frightened when they saw CRPF personnel shooting their pictures with their cell phones. They counted the rooms of my house and took my signatures on a paper while leaving; I fear they would misuse these video clips and put the honour of my daughters at risk,” Zoona Begum said.
Because of this “survey” men prefer to stay at homes leading to loss of workdays.
The CRPF has already completed the registration process in Jamia Qadeem, Khonabal, Rest House Colony, and Iqbalabad in the past few days, the residents said.
When contacted, the Superintendent of Police Handwara, Muhammad Rafiq Vakil, told Greater Kashmir, “I have not received any complaint in this regard as yet; I don’t think CRPF personnel have time to register the details of the locals.”
The Public Relations Officer of CRPF, Prabhakar Tripathi, however, admitted that such a survey was in progress.
“This is a familiarization program meant for developing contact with people. We have directed the troopers to meet people and know every one; nothing more than that. People should not be sacred of CRPF personnel,” Tripathi said.