New Delhi, March 4: The country's largest paramilitary force, accused of indiscriminate use of pellet guns in Jammu and Kashmir last year, is hoping to win the "hearts and minds" of people in the state with a helpline.

A CRPF officer said the toll-free helpline, 14411, the first of its kind in the Valley, was aimed at helping local residents in distress.

"The helpline is part of an outreach programme to help people in the Valley. Since the force is spread in every district of the state, the helpline will provide immediate help to people in distress," Zulfiquar Hasan, inspector-general in charge of the Jammu and Kashmir sector, told The Telegraph over the phone.

The round-the-clock helpline - Madadgar (helpful) - will become operational from next week, days after CRPF sources said the force had worked out a new standard operating procedure to tackle stone-throwers, with a diktat to its personnel to fire pellet guns "below the waist".

The new SOP followed pressure to ban gun-fired pellets, which were introduced as a "non-lethal" alternative to bullets but left a dozen people dead and 300-odd blinded in at least one eye during the summer violence last year.

The helpline is a step further to salve the hurt.

Anyone can dial the helpline, from girls being harassed by road Romeos to people in need of emergency ambulance services and those getting threat calls from militants. The paramilitary force will use its fleet of ambulances and doctors to provide the medical help needed.

Sources in the Union home ministry said security forces were bracing for a long summer in the Valley and an expected rise in violence after the winter lull. "The CRPF has 60,000 personnel posted in the Valley and they have been deployed to assist the local police in maintaining law and order and conduct counter-terrorism operations. There is a huge trust deficit among locals and we hope this helpline will help the force win the trust of the local people," a senior ministry official said.

Inspector-general Hasan said Kashmiris, especially youths living outside the state, could also call the helpline if they faced any harassment. "Kashmiri students facing harassment or any problem can contact us on the helpline. We will reach out to them and address their grievances," he said.

"Even tourists and people visiting the state for the Amarnath Yatra can call on the helpline. Our personnel will be ready to help them out," Hasan added.

A senior CRPF official posted in Srinagar said images of people with pellet gun injuries last summer - in the unrest that followed the July killing of militant poster boy Burhan Wani - had remained etched in the memories of residents, who see security forces as agents of oppression.

"The problem in Kashmir will be solved only through dialogue and development work. There is a need to restore public confidence and engage the people politically," he said.

Officials said the problem had been compounded because chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had not been able to inspire confidence in her government and also her inability to handle last year's unrest.