The several terror events that occurred in the valley recently has prompted the government to deploy an all-women security force in Kashmir. For the first time, the government has deployed women CRPF constables to conduct frisking of women at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk. As reported by a news agency, the women security personnels at City Center are following all necessary codes of conduct and are respectfully asking the women to follow security check protocols in the wake of terror attacks.
This recent development of security checks has not gone down well with many local women, and they have expressed their disapproval and concerns. They have expressed their concerns not regarding the checking but the manner in which these are conducted. Earlier, women did not have to undergo such checks in Kashmir, but the recent incidents of civilian killings in the valley have resulted in such actions to be undertaken. Along with frisking, identity proofs are also being checked.
*The image used for this story is a representational one of Lal Chowk, Srinagar.