The Indian government has sanctioned Rs4.54 crore for winter clothing and specialised equipment for paramilitary Centeral Reserve Police personnel deployed at high-altitude Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs) in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, further expanding the militarization across the occupied territory.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs approved the special allocation for equipment including snow boots, sleeping bags, extreme cold-weather clothing, tents, gloves, blankets, goggles, rucksacks and other items for around 600 CRPF personnel deployed at the bases.Indian officials said the equipment would be used by CRPF commandos conducting long-duration patrols and operations in snow-bound areas.

The TOBs have reportedly been established at elevations above 6,000 feet in areas where Indian authorities allege armed fighters take shelter. The move comes amid a continued expansion of Indian military and paramilitary presence in IIOJK. Indian officials claim that 55 such temporary bases have been established across Jammu and Kashmir since July 2025, with each base accommodating between 15 and 25 armed personnel.

According to Indian officials, the bases were made operational after the Pahalgam incident, although the proposal for establishing TOBs for CRPF commandos had reportedly been under consideration since 2022-23. The latest allocation reflects the continuing expansion of India’s military and paramilitary infrastructure in the occupied territory, where residents already live under an extensive security presence and are frequently subjected to checkpoints, searches, cordon operations and surveillance. The steady expansion of armed bases and specialised operations in civilian areas has further deepened concerns over militarisation and its impact on the daily lives of the Kashmiri people.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)