CRPF: 10 facts on India's largest para military force who specialize in counter insurgency operations

The CRPF came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939. After Indian Independence, it became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28 December 1949.

Central Reserve Police Force (Source: PTI)

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the largest of India's Central Armed Police Forces. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India.  The main role  of the Central Reserve Police Force is to enable the government to maintain Rule of Law, Public Order and Internal Security effectively and efficiently to preserve National Integrity & Promote Social Harmony and Development by upholding supremacy of the Constitution. It came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939. After Indian Independence, it became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28 December 1949. It has completed 79 years of glorious history. Since its raising over seven decades back, the Force has grown into a big organization with 246 Bns, (including 208 executive Bns, 6 Mahila Bns, 15 RAF Bns, 10 CoBRA Bns, 5 Signal Bns and 1 Special Duty Group, 1 Parliament Duty Group), 43 Group Centres, 20 Training Institutions, 3 CWS, 7 AWS, 3 SWS, 4 Composite Hospitals of 100 bed and 17 Composite Hospitals of 50 bed. Here are 10 interesting facts on India's largest paramilitary force 1. The Central Reserve Police Force came into existence as Crown Representative’s Police on 27th July 1939. 2. The CRPF was derived from the CRP (Crown Representative's Police) on 27 July 1939 with 2 battalions in Nimach [Means North Indian Mounted Artillery and Cavalry Headquarter], Madhya Pradesh. 3. It became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949. 4. The main role of the CRPF is to assist the State Police or Union Territory Police in maintaining law and order 5. The CRPF guarded the India-Pakistan Border until 1965, at which point the Border Security Force was created for that purpose. 6. CRPF has assisted Indian Army in all wars. On 9 April 1965 two companies of CRPF repulsed the attack of a Pakistan Infantry Brigade and didn’t let them enter Indian Territory in Sardar Post at Rann of Kutch and held ground until Army came and took over. 7. In a move to counter the Naxalite movement, a wing called Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) was added to the CRPF. 8. On 2001 Indian Parliament attack the CRPF troopers killed all five terrorists who had entered the premises of the Indian Parliament in New Delhi. 9. CRPF is the world’d first paramilitary force comprised entirely of women. The Mahila Battalion (88th Battalion of CRPF) commissioned on March 30, 1986. 10. CRPF has its own IED School, Dog Training school, Counter Insurgency school, Jungle warfare school, Map reading school, Computer Training School