The CRPF has decided to procure a new fleet of mine-protected vehicles and 30-seater, bullet-resistant buses to ensure the safety of its convoys in Jammu and Kashmir, where a suicide attacker killed 40 personnel at Pulwama on February 14.

The country’s biggest paramilitary force has also decided to increase the number of its bomb detection and disposal squads in the Valley, where about 65 battalions (65,000 jawans) are stationed for anti-terror operations and law-and-order duties.

A CRPF officer said: “Our motor transport branch has been pressing for the procurement of these vehicles for several years. It seems the top brass has woken up after the Pulwama attack.”

Mine-protected vehicles, used mostly in Maoist zones, have become crucial in the Valley following intelligence inputs that the militants might resort to more bomb attacks. The additional bomb detection and disposal squads too will be commissioned with this in mind.

As for the new buses, sources said, bullet-resistant armour plating is more feasible for smaller buses than the standard-sized ones that can carry 52 passengers each.

“New standard operating procedures for convoy movement have been put in place to avoid any Pulwama-like attacks,” the officer said.

“Under the new SOP, the movement of civilian vehicles will be restricted during convoy movements, and the halting points will be changed regularly.”

The CRPF cavalcade that came under attack in Pulwama was made up of 78 buses, carrying over 2,500 personnel.

A week after the attack, the government had said that the troops of the central paramilitary forces, including the CRPF, that are deployed in the Valley can use commercial flights for official travel or for journeys to their homes and back during leave. Earlier, only officers of the rank of inspector or above had the option of airline travel.

The relaxation was announced after news broke that the CRPF had sought helicopters to ferry the 2,500 personnel, who had been stuck in bad weather, from Jammu to Srinagar but the Union home ministry had denied permission.

Questions have also been asked why 2,500 troopers were travelling together, offering a high-risk target.