About Sh K. Vijay Kumar
Shri K Vijay Kumar took over as DG-CRPF on 2 October 2010. Under his dynamic leadership, CRPF has achieved many glorious attainments. Sh. Vijay Kumar, a Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer, had achieved fame when he headed the Special Task Force (STF) for a long time and strategised operations that culminated in the elimination of the dreaded sandalwood smuggler Veerapan in October 2004. He also headed the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad from 2008. Earlier, he had also had a stint in BSF as an Inspector General in Kashmir for two years.
The Central Reserve Police Force is an armed Force of the Union of India, with the basic role of striking reserve to assist the State/Union Territories in Police operations to maintain law and order and contain insurgency. Its role is that of a catalyst in maintaining law & order, and returns to barracks once this objective is achieved. The force is also being used for various police duties in various States. It is All India in character, both in deployment and in its composition. Due to its unique capability to quickly adapt to various situational requirements, and also, to work in perfect harmony with the State Police, CRPF has, over the years, acquired the distinction of being perhaps the most acceptable Force, by the people and the State administrations. The Central Reserve Police Force came into existence as Crown Representative’s Police on 27th July 1939. It became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949. It has completed 62 years of glorious history. The Force has grown into a big organization with 207 Bn, (including 181 executive Bns, 2 Mahila Bns, 10 RAF Bns, 6 CoBRA Bns, 2 DM (NDRF) Bns, 5 Signal Bns and 1 Special Duty Group), 37 Group Centres, 11 Training Institutions, 2 CWS, 7 AWS, 3 SWS, 4 Composite Hospitals of 100 bed and 17 Composite Hospitals of 50 bed.
Excerpts from Interview
Dr Arvind Kumar, Editor, Focus Global Reporter, recently interviewed Shri K. Vijay Kumar, DG-CRPF. Excerpts of the operative part of the interview are as follow:
What is the overall role of CRPf in ensuring peace and internal security with in the country?
Ans. CRPF is deployed across the length and breadth of the country with 70 Bn In J&K, 55 Bn in Naxal affected states and 34 Bn in North eastern States. The force comprises the most crucial element of the internal security set up of the country.
Why did the CRPF personnel suffer heavy casualties while dealing with the menacing Maoists in recent couple of year?
Ans. The force has been tirelessly performing the law and order election and other assigned duties with distinction. The foray into jungle warfare is relatively new for CRPF and the force is gearing up to meet the challenges in combating Naxal violence. Since the experience is new and tough, the force is witnessing casualties and this will decline with passage of time with intense training and exposure.
Is there need for equipping the CRPF personnel engaged in combat with the Maoists with more modern weapons?
Ans. Yes, With changing dynamics observed in jungle combat there is need for more number of NVD, GPS, UBGL, MGL, etc. and steps are being taken to procure such items.
Do you think that some human rights groups are more sympathetic to the Maoists and hostile to the CRPF?
Ans. There is this quintessential dichotomy. There is more hue and cry for a relatively small infringements or violations but when incidents of Tadmetla or Dhaudai and other similar Incidents occur where there are large number of force casualties then not much voice is raised.
Do the CRPF Units engaged in combating the Maoists getting full cooperation from local administration?
Ans. Yes.
Are you satisfied with the media coverage of the combat operations or have some suggestions for the media?
Ans. Media is news, hungry as it should be, but seem to devour even the unvouchsafed version of some spokesperson or mouthpiece.
What measures are being undertaken by the CRPF to win the confidence and goodwill of the local populace, say, on the lines of Operation Sadhbhawna being undertaken by the Armed Forces in J&K and other Border areas?
Ans. Efforts are being made to carry out activities which enable the force to win over the hearts of comman people. Activities related to community building, running health camps, initiating small projects in education, drinking water , creations of infrastructure, imparting vocational training, supply of solar street lights, lanterns, hospital beds and medicines, sports items, computer, sewing machine etc. to the needy have continuously been undertaken for the betterment and benefit of common people. Apart from this special effort have been carried out for recruitment from Bastar region in Mahila Battalion, Vulnerable adolescents have been identified and given vocational training for gainful employment, recruiting/training girls from most interior places as security guards and supporting the families of locals killed in Naxal violence.
What new challenges do you foresee for the CRPF in near future?
Ans. We plan 4 National level schools, which HM has approved in principle, we plan massive expansion of Trg. Capacity [4 RTC (recruitment Training Centre) + 1 CTC (central Training Collage)] for nearly rs. 2000/- crores. We also would like to start RAF/National anti Riot School, first women trainers training centre. We are the foremost Internal security wing of the nation and with these national level schools we would like to impart the very best training and make it most modern force in riot control, combating insurgency and Naxalism. We seek to impart best training in jungle craft.
