Central Reserve Police Force

Infobox Law enforcement agency
agencyname = Central Reserve Police Force
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abbreviation = CPRF
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logocaption = Central Reserve Police Force Emblem
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imagesize = 150
motto = SERVICE AND LOYALTY
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formedyear = 1939
formedmonthday = July 27
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country = India
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federal = Yes


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constitution1 = Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949
speciality = paramilitary
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electeetype = Minister
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minister1pfo = Ministry of Home Affairs
chief1name = SIS Ahmed
chief1position = Director General
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unittype = Sector
unitname = 10
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The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is a paramilitary security agency/Force functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA), Government of India. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and contain insurgency. It came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on July 27, 1939. After Indian Independence, it became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on December 28, 1949.

The Director General of CRPF is Mr.SIS Ahmed of 1970 IPS batch,appointed on March 1, 2007 who was earlier the Director General of CISF since May 6, 2005.

Besides Law and Order and counter insurgency duties, the role of CRPF in the General Elections, held repeatedly during the past few years, has been very significant and vital. This is especially true for the trouble torn states of J&K, Bihar and in the North East. During the Parliamentary elections of September 1999, the CRPF played a major role in the security arrangements. This is the largest paramilitary force in the world with 200 battalions besides various establishments.Of late, CRPF contingents are also being deployed in UN missions.

History

CRPF was originally created as CRP(Crown Representative Police) on 27th July, 1939, with 2 Battalions. Its primary duty at that time was to protect the British residents in sensitive states. In 1949, Sardar Patel had it renamed as CRPF under the CRPF Act. The Sixties saw major expansion of CRPF in which many State Reserve Police Battalions were merged with CRPF. Today, the force has 200 Battalions. CRPF has been active against foreign invasion and domestic insurgency. On 21st October 1959, Dy.S.P. Karam Singh and his 20 soldiers were attacked by the Chinese Army, at Hot Springs in Ladakh. 10 were killed and the rest were taken prisoners. 21st October is now remembered across the country as POLICE COMMEMORATION DAY.In the 1965 India-Pakistan war, two companies (approx. 150 men) of the 2nd Battalion of CRPF defeated an infantry brigade (approx. 1600 men) of Pakistan Army at Kanjar Kot in Gujarat.

The CRPF guarded the India-Pakistan border until 1965, at which point the Border Security Force was created for that purpose.

On 13th December, 2001, the CRPF troopers killed all five terrorists who had entered the premises of the Indian Parliament at New Delhi.

In 2005, the CRPF troops killed all terrorists who had stormed the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

In recent years, the Central Government has decided to follow up on recommendations of the Cabinet to use each security agency for its mandated purpose. Therefore, the counterinsurgency operations in India has been entrusted to the CRPF. The CRPF is currently charged with securing the Kashmir valley. Recently CRPF have completely relieved the Border Security Force in the Kashmir Valley of its Internal Security duties.

Organization

The CRPF is headed by Director general and is divided into ten administrative sectors headed each by an Inspector General .Each Sector consists of one or more administrative and/or Operational Ranges ,headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police.Group Centres are headed by Addl DIGs

There are 200 CRPF battalions of 720 constables approximately each and commanded by an officer designated as Commandant and consists of seven CRPF companies.The Companies are in charge of Assistant Commandants .

The Rapid Action Force

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialised 10 battalion wing of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force. It was formed in October 1992, to deal with communal riots and related civil unrest. The battalions are numbered from 99 to 108.

Weapons

CRPF uses basic Infantry weapons such as Type 56 Assault rifles , Type 81 Assault rifles , AKM rifles , INSAS 5.56 MM Assault rifle , G3A3 Battle rifle , MP5 Submachine-gun ; Uzi submachinegun , M9 pistol ; RPG 7 Rocket-propelled grenade launchers ; and M67 hand-grenades. CRPF also uses landmine detectors ; Light Machine-Guns and Heavy-Machine-Guns.

Women in the CPRF

The CRPF is the only Paramilitary Force in the world to have two battalions staffed entirely by women. The first battalion was raised in 1986 with its headquarters at New Delhi. The second battalion came into existence in 1996 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The Green Force

Another specialised outfit of the CRPF is the Green Force. The force has been able to effectively check environmental degradation and sustain the regeneration of local flora and fauna. Every year Green Force personnel plant lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of trees in various parts of the country.

External links

* [http://www.crpf.nic.in/ Official website]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/crpf.htm global security article]