Daily Analysis of 'The Hindu' - 18th February, 2020 | Additional Study Material for UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


May the Force be strengthened
?In the wake of Independence, a contentious administrative
issue was over the retention of CRP (Crown Representative
Police).
?As the Constitution designated ‘law and order’ as a State
subject, the relevance of having a Central police force was
questioned by everyone, except Deputy Prime Minister and
Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who argued
vehemently and boldly in favour of it.
?From having just two battalions as the CRP, the Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has now expanded to being a
three-and-a-half lakh-strong force consisting of specialist
wings like the Rapid Action Force, the COBRA (Commando
Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Special Duty Group.
Page 2


May the Force be strengthened
?In the wake of Independence, a contentious administrative
issue was over the retention of CRP (Crown Representative
Police).
?As the Constitution designated ‘law and order’ as a State
subject, the relevance of having a Central police force was
questioned by everyone, except Deputy Prime Minister and
Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who argued
vehemently and boldly in favour of it.
?From having just two battalions as the CRP, the Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has now expanded to being a
three-and-a-half lakh-strong force consisting of specialist
wings like the Rapid Action Force, the COBRA (Commando
Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Special Duty Group.
?It is the largest paramilitary force in the world
and no other security force of the country has seen
expansion at such a rapid rate.
?Providing integrated security to a diverse country
of continental size is not an easy task. Resolving
certain conflicts requires immediate solutions for
which regular armed forces cannot be deployed.
?Hence, we require paramilitary forces, and the
CRPF is the most sought-after one because of its
flexibility and versatility.
?The force has earned its place as the
‘peacekeeper of the nation’.
Page 3


May the Force be strengthened
?In the wake of Independence, a contentious administrative
issue was over the retention of CRP (Crown Representative
Police).
?As the Constitution designated ‘law and order’ as a State
subject, the relevance of having a Central police force was
questioned by everyone, except Deputy Prime Minister and
Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who argued
vehemently and boldly in favour of it.
?From having just two battalions as the CRP, the Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has now expanded to being a
three-and-a-half lakh-strong force consisting of specialist
wings like the Rapid Action Force, the COBRA (Commando
Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Special Duty Group.
?It is the largest paramilitary force in the world
and no other security force of the country has seen
expansion at such a rapid rate.
?Providing integrated security to a diverse country
of continental size is not an easy task. Resolving
certain conflicts requires immediate solutions for
which regular armed forces cannot be deployed.
?Hence, we require paramilitary forces, and the
CRPF is the most sought-after one because of its
flexibility and versatility.
?The force has earned its place as the
‘peacekeeper of the nation’.
?April 9 is observed as ‘Valour Day’ by the CRPF
because it was on this day in 1965 that an ordinary
battalion of the CRPF repulsed an attack by a
Pakistani brigade.
?Similarly, October 21 is observed as
‘Commemoration Day’ by all police forces, as a
mark of respect to the CRPF soldiers who, in their
fight against the Chinese Army in 1959, at Hot
Springs, Leh, made the supreme sacrifice.
?However, this glowing track record pales into
insignificance when we consider the mass
casualties the Force has had to suffer.
Page 4


May the Force be strengthened
?In the wake of Independence, a contentious administrative
issue was over the retention of CRP (Crown Representative
Police).
?As the Constitution designated ‘law and order’ as a State
subject, the relevance of having a Central police force was
questioned by everyone, except Deputy Prime Minister and
Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who argued
vehemently and boldly in favour of it.
?From having just two battalions as the CRP, the Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has now expanded to being a
three-and-a-half lakh-strong force consisting of specialist
wings like the Rapid Action Force, the COBRA (Commando
Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Special Duty Group.
?It is the largest paramilitary force in the world
and no other security force of the country has seen
expansion at such a rapid rate.
?Providing integrated security to a diverse country
of continental size is not an easy task. Resolving
certain conflicts requires immediate solutions for
which regular armed forces cannot be deployed.
?Hence, we require paramilitary forces, and the
CRPF is the most sought-after one because of its
flexibility and versatility.
?The force has earned its place as the
‘peacekeeper of the nation’.
?April 9 is observed as ‘Valour Day’ by the CRPF
because it was on this day in 1965 that an ordinary
battalion of the CRPF repulsed an attack by a
Pakistani brigade.
?Similarly, October 21 is observed as
‘Commemoration Day’ by all police forces, as a
mark of respect to the CRPF soldiers who, in their
fight against the Chinese Army in 1959, at Hot
Springs, Leh, made the supreme sacrifice.
?However, this glowing track record pales into
insignificance when we consider the mass
casualties the Force has had to suffer.
Page 5


May the Force be strengthened
?In the wake of Independence, a contentious administrative
issue was over the retention of CRP (Crown Representative
Police).
?As the Constitution designated ‘law and order’ as a State
subject, the relevance of having a Central police force was
questioned by everyone, except Deputy Prime Minister and
Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who argued
vehemently and boldly in favour of it.
?From having just two battalions as the CRP, the Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has now expanded to being a
three-and-a-half lakh-strong force consisting of specialist
wings like the Rapid Action Force, the COBRA (Commando
Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Special Duty Group.
?It is the largest paramilitary force in the world
and no other security force of the country has seen
expansion at such a rapid rate.
?Providing integrated security to a diverse country
of continental size is not an easy task. Resolving
certain conflicts requires immediate solutions for
which regular armed forces cannot be deployed.
?Hence, we require paramilitary forces, and the
CRPF is the most sought-after one because of its
flexibility and versatility.
?The force has earned its place as the
‘peacekeeper of the nation’.
?April 9 is observed as ‘Valour Day’ by the CRPF
because it was on this day in 1965 that an ordinary
battalion of the CRPF repulsed an attack by a
Pakistani brigade.
?Similarly, October 21 is observed as
‘Commemoration Day’ by all police forces, as a
mark of respect to the CRPF soldiers who, in their
fight against the Chinese Army in 1959, at Hot
Springs, Leh, made the supreme sacrifice.
?However, this glowing track record pales into
insignificance when we consider the mass
casualties the Force has had to suffer.
?In April 2010, at least 75 of its soldiers were
killed by Maoists, numbering about 300, in
Dantewada early morning when they were
returning after a night-long patrol.
?And last year, the Pulwama attack happened.
?What made Pulwama different from the earlier
episodes of mass casualties was the unparalleled
response from the political leadership, civil
society and all other stakeholders to the attack.
?A year after the attack, it is time for the nation to
take a relook at the main agency dealing with
conflicts in different territorial zones.
?The frequent movements lock, stock and barrel
are taking its toll.