JK’s ‘over dependence’ on paramilitary forces a drain on exchequer

The deployment of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPMFs) in J&K is set to take a toll on its cash-starved economy, with the forces seeking money from the State for providing their “assistance.”
Official documents in possession of KP reveal that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)—the paramilitary force falling under the jurisdiction of Union Ministry of Home Affairs—has charged J&K Rs 7.68 crore for utilizing services of its men in maintaining internal security in the State.
In a communiqué (NO.11/28014/ITBP/IS. duty/Dep.Charges/Service Tax/2015-16,Dated, September 4, 2015) , the Directorate General of ITBP has communicated to Chief Secretary (J&K) that the State owes Rs 7, 68,93, 285 to the paramilitary force.
Asking the State government to clear the outstanding dues, the force warned it that any delay would invite penalty.
“Delay would attract a cumulative quarterly penalty rate of 2.5% of the outstanding bill amount raised w.e.f. 01.04.2014,” the communiqué reads. “From the current year, the payments received from the borrowing states/Union Territories within 90 days from the date of claim shall get a rebate of 5% of the bill value.”
According to documents, the state government was also asked to pay service tax for deployment of the force in the State but the same was waived off after the Union Finance Ministry conveyed to the MHA that “services rendered by Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPMFs) for assisting in counter-insurgency operations, maintenance of law and order and other public exigencies would not be leviable to service tax as same would fall under negative list.”
Otherwise, the State was earlier asked to shell out Rs 87, 63,832 as service tax which was conveyed through two letters (L/NO 569 dated 8.7.2015) and L/NO 651 Dated.3.8.15).
The bills have been served at a time when the State is struggling to meet its day-to-day expenditure due to dearth of resources. The State is depending on high interest rate bearing market loans to fund its expenditure.
The revelation has also put a spotlight on State government’s over-dependence on them central forces despite J&K having one of the highest police-to-population ratio.
Presently, JK has nearly 80000 regular cops and 23000 Special Police Officers.
When contacted, New Delhi-based Public Relation Officer (PRO) of ITBP, Vivek Pandey confirmed that they are seeking deployment charges from the state government.
“The J&K government owes us more than Rs 11 crore now,” he said, adding they are charging all states for assisting them in internal security including maintenance of law and order and election duties.
“We don’t charge for border guarding,” he added.
Principal Security Home R K Goyal refused to comment on the matter. “I am busy,” he said.
Apart from ITBP, Central Reserve of Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force, SeemaSahastraBal (SSB) and Central Industrial Security Force have their presence in J&K which has been described as one of the “largest militarized zones” in the world.