The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) celebrated its 80th Raising Day with gaiety and fervor at its Headquarters in Bangrasiya village, Bhojpur Road, in the State capital on Saturday. The CRPF was initially raised as ‘Crown Representatives’ Police’ on July 27, 1939, during the British rule, in Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh). Post-independence it was rechristened as Central Reserve Police by the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, the Ironman Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

 

 

Raised with strength of a single Battalion, the force has grown up as the largest Paramilitary of the world, in terms of its present strength of 246 Battalions. Since its inception, the Force personnel have been engaged mainly in maintaining law and order in the country and fighting with the menaces of extremism in north-eastern states, terrorism in Punjab and J&K and Naxalism in Left Wing Extremism affected areas. CRPF is decorated with one George Cross, three Kings Police Medal for Gallantry, one Ashok Chakra, seven Kirti Chakra, one Vir Chakra, 32 Sharuya Chakra, 1998 Gallantry Medals.

 

 

To mark the 80th Raising Day, a number of programmes organised under the aegis of Group Centre CRPF Bhopal. The celebrations started in the morning with a mass cleanliness drive, flagged off by P K Pandey, IG, MP Sector, CRPF, accompanied by Ajay Kumar, DIG, Group Centre, CRPF Bhopal. IG also administered an oath to the gathering to stop use of plastic & polythene bags completely. Later, P K Pandey distributed 900 plants and saplings to the force personnel and their family members and this was followed by a mass plantation drive in the camp area.

 

 

Thereafter, a wreathlying ceremony was held at the Martyrs’ Memorial, where Pandey, IG CRPF, Mahesh Kumar, DIG, Ajay Kumar Singh, DIG, Dr Maheshwari Bhagat, DIG (Medical) and other senior officers paid tribute to the martyrs of the elite Force. P K Pandey IG, CRPF, then took salute of the ceremonial guard at the Quarter Guard, distributed sweets to the force personnel and greeted them for a more successful time ahead. A Sainik Sammelan was also convened at the Men’s Club, which was attended by the officers and men. Games and sports events were also organised to mark this day and the winners were felicitated along with other personnel recognised as the best performers in different fields. The celebrations concluded with the traditional function of Bara-Khana organised in the evening.