India Deploys New CoBRA Commando Unit to Further Militarize IIOJK

In a move seen as escalating the militarization of IIIOJK, India has announced the deployment of a new elite commando unit under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), raising alarm over deepening repression in the region.

To reinforce its harsh control over the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the Indian government has decided to establish a new CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit in the region. This marks yet another step in the intensification of military operations under the guise of counterinsurgency.

The announcement came during the 86th Raising Day of the CRPF, held in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh. Speaking at the event, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh revealed that the decision follows direct orders from Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.

According to Singh, the newly formed battalion will carry out specialized operations in the densely forested areas of both Jammu and the Kashmir Valley, further tightening India’s grip on the region.

This will be the 11th CoBRA battalion to be raised since the unit’s inception in 2008–09. Although some CoBRA companies underwent training in IIOJK in 2023, they were not previously deployed in full strength. Now, that policy appears to be changing.

CoBRA units are trained in guerrilla warfare and jungle combat tactics, with commandos equipped with modern assault rifles, surveillance devices, and advanced communication systems. Their primary role has traditionally been counterinsurgency, especially in Naxal-affected areas—but their deployment in IIOJK signals a shift toward full-spectrum militarization.

Human rights observers and Kashmiri civil society groups view this as yet another attempt to criminalize dissent and suppress the local population under heavy military presence. The arrival of CoBRA commandos, known for their aggressive operations, is likely to further inflame tensions in the already volatile region.

Critics argue that instead of addressing the political aspirations and human rights of the Kashmiri people, the Indian government continues to rely on force and fear, building on a legacy of occupation and violence in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.