India
Some in mainstream and social media had claimed that the government had exposed CRPF soldiers to danger before the Pulwama massacre by refusing to provide them aircraft.
New Delhi: Debunking another fake news by some media outlets that the government refused to airlift Central Reserve Police Force ( CRPF) personnel and they were forced to travel by road from Jammu to Srinagar, MHA sources said they had actually increased air drops to reduce travel time.
Some in mainstream and social media had claimed that the government had exposed CRPF soldiers to danger before the Pulwama massacre by refusing to provide them aircraft. More than 40 died in the fidayeen attack.
"Reports appeared in a section of media that air transit facility on the Jammu-Srinagar sector for CRPF troops has not been allowed. This is untrue, " MHA sources told MyNation.
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Over the past few years, MHA had significantly enhanced air courier services for central armed personnels (CAPFs) in all sectors to help the jawans cut down on travel time during their journey to and back from home on leave. According to information accessed by MyNation, in the Jammu and Kashmir sector, air courier service for transportation of CAPF jawans is already in operation for quite some time.
However, movement of convoys by road for logistical and operational reasons has been on and will continue to be necessary. This is also the case with the Army.
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Initially, the air transport facility was available only in the Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu sector. Later, on the request of the CAPFs, the services were extended to Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi, with seven flights a week in December 2017.
In December 2018, MHA approved enhancement of air support by increasing the routes and flights.
There are seven flights a week between Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi, four flights a week between Srinagar-Jammu-Srinagar.
MHA official added that in addition, air support is provided from the Indian Air Force as and when required. Several sorties were run for CRPF in January 2019.
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