The Central Government has established a number of police organisations known as the Central Police Organisations (CPOs). Police organisations, also known as Central Para-Military Forces (CPMFs), like the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the National Security Guards.
The other group includes organisations like the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Direct of Coordination of Police Wireless (DCPW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Crime Records Bure (NCRB), National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (NICFS),A brief description of these organisations is given below:
(a) Central Armed Police Forces (CPMFs)
There are seven Central Police Forces (CPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, namely As Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Res Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sasha Seema Bal (SSB). AR, BSF, ITBP and SSB are the border-guarding forces while CRPF assists t States in matters related to law and order and is trained & equipped for internal security manage me The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) are specialise wings of the CRPF to deal with riots and left wing militancy, respectively.
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CISF provides security a protection to vital installations, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), airports, industrial buildings, must urns and Government buildings. NSG is a specialized force for counter-terrorism and anti-hijacking operations. It is also entrusted with the task of securing high-risk VIPs.
(b) Assam Rifles (AR)
Known as ‘Friends of the Hill People’, Assam Rifles, raised initially as ‘Cachar Levy’ in 1835, oldest Police Force in the country with headquarters at Shillong. it has 2 Inspectorate General Head quarters, 9 Sector Headquarters, 46 Battalions.1 Training Centre & School, 3 Maintenance Groups 3 Workshops, 1 Construction & Maintenance Company and a few Ancillary Units.
The Force has du* role of maintaining internal security in the States in the North Eastern Region and guarding the Indo- Myanmar Border. The Force works under the operational control of the Army. During the year, action to review, rationalize and strengthen the border guarding arrangements on the Indo-Myanmar border has been initiated. The official web-site of the Assam Rifles is Assam Rifles.com.
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(c) Border Security Force (BSF)
Border Security Force (BSF) was raised in 1965, with strength of 25 Battalions (Bns.) and 3 Companies (Coys.) to do away with multiplicity of State forces guarding the Indian borders with the neighboring countries. Over the years, the Force has grown in size and as on date, it has 159 Bns. with 7 Coys, each, 5 major training institutions, 09 subsidiary training centers and 04 minor training institutions.
The Force headquarter is in Delhi. Its field formations include 2 Special Directorates General, i.e. Spl. DG (East) and Spl. DG (West), 10 Frontiers and 39 Sector Headquarters, Water Wing and Air Wing. Its operational responsibility is spread over 6,385.36 km. of International Border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. BSF is also deployed on Line of Control (LOC) in J&K under operational control of the Army.
The Government has sanctioned the raising of 29 more Bns. of the BSF with 07 Coys pattern over a period of 5 years starting from 2009-10. At present 03 Sectors and 01 Frontier are under rising during 2009-10 to: further strengthening the deployment on the Indo-Bangladesh border and also to ensure regular training, and rest and recuperation of the personnel.
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Three more Frontier Headquarters and 07 more Sector Headquarters are also to be created for operational command and control of the additional battalions. The total strength of the Force is 2, 19,560 as on January 1, 2010. Total 1,165 women are working in BSF in different groups
(d) Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
Raised in the year 1969, CISF is providing security cover to 285 units including 57 domestic and international airports and fire protection cover to 80 Industrial Undertakings. In a span of four decades, the Force has grown several fold and crossed 1, 20,000 personnel as on January 22, 2010 with a provision for review in 2011. With globalization and liberalization of the economy, CISF is no longer a PSU-centric organization. Instead, it has become a premier multi-skilled security agency of the country, mandated to provide security to major critical infrastructure installations of the country in diverse regions including terrorist and naxal affected areas.
CISF is currently providing security cover to 289 units which includes Atomic Power Plants, Space Installations, Defence Production Units, Mines, Oil Fields and Refineries, Major Sea Ports, Heavy Engineering Steel Plants, Fertilizer units, Airports, Hydro electric/thermal power plants, sensitive Government buildings and even heritage monuments (including the Taj Mahal and Red Fort).
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Among the important responsibilities recently entrusted to the CISF are the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, VIP Security, Disaster Management and establishment of a Formed Police Unit (FPU) of the UN at Haiti.
CISF is also one of the largest Fire Protection Service providers in the country. It provides fire protection cover to 80 Industrial Undertakings. The Fire Wing is equipped with the latest firefighting equipment.
The specialized task of airport security was assigned to CISF in the wake of hijacking of Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar.
The Force has so far taken over security of all major airports in the country, which includes international airports of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. Besides, it has taken over security of 50 Government buildings, which includes North Block, part of South Block and CGO Complex at Delhi. CISF provides technical consultancy services relating to security and fire protection to industries in Public and private sectors.
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The CISF Act was amended to enable the Force to provide security, on payment basis, to private/joint venture industrial undertakings, which are vital for the security and economy of the country. After the Mumbai terrorist attack in November 2008, the mandate of the force has been broadened to provide direct security cover to private sector also. More than 102 private sector installations have already requested for CISF protection and Infosys Technologies Limited – a multinational information technology services company’s headquarter in Chapter-VIII Bangalore, became the first Private sector company to get the CISF security cover on August 1, 2009. CISF is a cost re-imbursement force i.e. it is not a burden on the National Exchequer.
CISF in the month of October, 2009 has started a passenger-friendly utility on its official website www.cisf.gov.in for the Lost and Found articles at all Airports where CISF has been deployed.
(e) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
Initially raised as the Crown Representative Police on July 27, 1939 at Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, the Force was rechristened as Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) after Independence. Since then, the Force has achieved remarkable growth in strength and capabilities.
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It has an approved strength of 206 Bns. [183 Executive Bns. (2 Bns. under raising), 2 Disaster Management Bns., 3 Mahila Bns. (01 Bn. under raising), 10 RAF Bns., 5 Signal Bns., 6 CoBRA Bns. (4 Bns. under raising) and 1 Special Duty Group, 37 Group Centres, 14Training Institutions (1 CIAT school under raising), four 100 bedded Hospitals, seventeen 50 bedded Composite Hospitals, 7 Arms Workshops and 3 Central Weapon Stores (01 under raising)].
In addition, the Force also has Command/Supervisory formations viz. 3 Special DG Zones, 1 ADG Zone, 17 IG Sectors and 47 DIG Ranges, besides Force HQrs/Directorate General. In addition to above, recently, in September 2009, the Government have sanctioned 38 Bns. including 2 Mahila Bns., 7 GCs/R HQrs, 2 SHQrs, 1 CIAT School and 1 CWS along with dedicated manpower for Intelligence cell, vigilance cell, security platoon, Dog handlers, pioneer unit, CRPF Academy and additional post for signal Bns. to be raised in a period of 10 years starting from 2009-10.
It has become the largest Central Para Military Force (CPMF). The Force is at present handling a wide range of duties covering law and order and counter insurgency, anti-militancy and anti-terrorism operations.
The Force plays a key role in assisting States in maintaining public order and countering subversive activities of militant groups. It plays an important role in peaceful conduct of election in States/at the Centre. The Force also has ladies contingents organized into three Mahila Bns. (one under raising)
The CRPF personnel are on continuous vigil in various sensitive areas. They are also performing guarding duties of the vital installations and buildings of religious importance.
The Force plays an important role in the arrangements for the annual Amaranth Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir. Under a well- planned computerization policy for automation of the functionalities of the Force, CRPF has established an Intranet named “SELO” connecting 114 offices, including 5 Training Laboratories, situated at 65 physical locations across the country.
The Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity between different locations is achieved by hiring 64KBPs Leased Lines which is likely to be converted into 2 Mbps. Proposal for Computerization of Intranet SELO as Phase-2 of all remaining static establishments i.e. RAF Units/Signal Units, Training/Other Institutions, Composite Hospitals, CWS and all Executive Battalions are under process. The official web-site of the CRPF is crpf.nic.in.
(f) Rapid Action Force (RAF)
In 1992, 10 Bns. of CRPF were reorganized and converted into 10 Bns. of 4 Coys, each of RAF. The personnel in RAF are trained and equipped to be an effective strike force in areas located at 10 communally sensitive locations across the country to facilitate quick response in case of such incidents.
(g) Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (COBRA)
In 2008 the Government approved the raising of 10 Bns. of a specialized Force named CoBRA in the CRPF over a period of three years, including two in 2008-09 and four each in 2009-10 and 2010-11 The CoBRA Bns. will be trained and equipped for commando and guerilla/jungle warfare type of short and intelligence based quick operations, and are proposed to be located mainly in area affected by Left Wing Extremism. 02 Bns of CoBRA having 18 teams each have already been operationalised in Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) and Koraput (Orissa) Another 4 Bns. are undergoing training and likely to be operationalised during the year 2009-10. Like RAF, these Bns. will be organized on unattached pattern under the super vision of an Inspector General.
To facilitate the Force to take spot decisions, an officer of the rank of Assistant Commandant has been provided at Team level and an officer of the rank of Deputy Commandant has been provided at the coy level.
sTo provide training to the personnel of the CoBRA Bns. as well as commando Coys, of State Governments, the existing four Jungle/Guerilla Warfare Schools at Silchar (Assam), Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), Sapri (Himachal Pradesh) and Gwaldham (Uttarakhand) are also being upgraded.
(h) Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP)
ITBP was raised with 4 Service Bns. in the wake of India-China conflict in 1962. At present, it has 45 Service Bns. assisted by 4 Specialized Bns. It is deployed from the northwestern extremity of the India China Border up to the tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar covering 3,488 km. of mountainous terrains.
This force is deployed at altitudes ranging from 9,000 m to 18,600 m. The deployment of ITBP involves Border out Posts (BOPs) in the most inhospitable terrain. Nearly two thirds of the BOPs are not connected by road and many of them are air-maintained.
ITBP also provides security to VVIPs, VIPs and protects vital installations, which include the Rastrapati Bhawan, the Vice-President’s House, Parliament House and Raj Bhawan in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Having played a decisive role in combating militancy in Punjab, J&K and the North-East, it is now being inducted in Chhatisgarh for anti- Naxal operations. ITBP has been providing security cover to the Yatries of Kailash Mansarover Yatra since 1981. ITBP has 4 Frontiers headed by IsG, 13 sector headquarters headed by DIsG besides 3 training centres, including mountaineering and skiing institute at Auli.
In view of the continuous deployment of ITBP personnel in high altitude areas, the Government of India sanctioned 02 Zones, 06 Sector HQrs and 20 new Bns. to be raised in three financial years (2006-07 to 2008-09) for enabling rotation of troops from high altitude to plain areas and exposure of ITBP personnel to live action in internal security duties. Out of these, 02 Frontier Hqrs, 06 Sector Hqrs and 13 Bns. were raised till 2007-08 and are functioning at different locations.
The remaining 07 Bns. have been raised during 2008-09 and the personnel are undergoing training. The four Mahila coys, recently inducted in the Force, are now completing their training. The Mahila component will strengthen the VVIP and VIP security functions and help in providing security to traders in Nathu La (Sikkim) and in escorting Kailash Mansarovar yatries. It has been decided to form a Mahila Bn. of 4 Mahila GD Coys.
ITBP has been designated as the First Responder in the Himalayas for Disaster Management operations. A national level training institute in this regard has been established at the Basic Training Centre, Bhanu. The ITBP Academy at Mussoorie has been declared as a Centre of Excellence and the
ITBP Mountaineering & Skiing Institute at Auli is one of the premier institutes for providing training in winter warfare, and Antarctica bound expeditions. Recently, out of its available resources, ITBP has established a Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW) in Uttarakhand. II has trained 3 Coys, which are being inducted in anti-Naxal operations. ITBP Teams have carried out major relief and rescue operations during earthquakes, landslides and floods.
A High Altitude Medical Training School (HAMTS), has been established at Lehn. For the welfare of women and children, family welfare centre have been established which cater for the development of women with a view to augmenting their family income through handicrafts, food processing, cookery, backer, etc also a Gender Budgeting Cell has been established at the Directorate General which has implemented various schemes for benefiting the women employees of the Force.
ITBP has also contributed significantly in the UN peace-keeping efforts in strife-torn countries like Angola, Namibia, Bosnia and Kosovo etc. Presently, a formed Police unit has been sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo, for peace-keeping, under the aegis of the United Nations.
A contingent of well trained commandos has been providing security to the Indian Embassy and its four Consulates in Afghanistan. The official web-site of the ITBP is itbpolice.nic.in.
(i) National Security Guard (NSG)
National Security Guard was set up in 1984 as a Federal Contingency Deployment Force for combating terrorist activities with a view to protects the States against internal disturbances and for matters connected therewith. It is a task-oriented Force and has two complementary elements in the form of the Special Action Group (SAG), comprising Army personnel, and the Special Rangers Group (SRG), comprising personnel drawn from the Central Police/State Police Forces. NSG Commandos are trained in high-risk tasks like counter-hijacking and counter-terrorist operations.
They are also assigned the task of providing mobile security protection to designated high risk VIPs. NSG has been deployed to provide security cover during important events like Republic Day, Parliament Sessions, Independence Day and visits of VVIPs and during national important seminars, conferences, etc.
The NSG personnel also perform duties as Sky Marshals as well. 45 Women/Mahila personnel have been inducted in NSG as commandos/medical staff etc. In accordance with the decision of the Government of India, NSG commandos are also performing duties as Sky Marshals to cover designated domestic and international flights.
In addition to its operational tasks, the Force provides training on special commando action, bomb disposal (BD) techniques and VIP security to personnel of the Armed Forces, CPFs/State Police and security force personnel of friendly neighboring countries.
(j) NSG Regional Hubs
In the wake of the terrorist attack in Mumbai in November 2008, the Government has announced the setting up of NSG Regional Hubs in various parts of the country with a view to cut delay in deployment of NSG in a crisis situation. Four Regional Hubs of National Security Guards with a total strength of 1,086 personnel i.e. 241 personnel for each Hub and 122 personnel for Administrative support have been set up by the Government at Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
These Hubs have been made operational from June 30/July 1, 2009. NSG and State Police Forces would maintain a close liaison. In case of any crisis situation, NSG can be deployed immediately on the request of concerned State Government.
A Quick Reaction Team of NSG has also been set up at IGI Airport, Delhi for quick deployment. NSG maintains the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) at its main Centre at Manesar, Gurgaon, which is one of the six such centres in the world.
(k) Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
The Special Service Bureau (SSB) was set up in early 1963 in the wake of India-China conflict of 1962 to build up the morale and capability in the border population against threats of subversion, infiltration and sabotage from across the border.
It became a border guarding force in 2001 under the Ministry of Home Affairs and was rechristened ‘Sashastra Seema Bal’ with an amended charter. It has been given the border guarding responsibilities along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan Borders.
The Force has 41 Bns. on 7 Coys pattern and 25 areas headed by Area Organizers with 3 Frontier and 8 Sector HQrs. SSB is now functioning in 7 Border States covering a stretch of 1,751 km. of the International Border in 20 districts along Indo-Nepal Border and about 120 km. along the Indo-Bhutan border. SSB Bns. has also been deployed for election duties and on internal security duties in naxal affected areas. SSB has a strong Civic Action Programme under which the Force provides medical aid and medicines, implements veterinary aid programmes, organizes social awareness campaigns, vocational training, youth awareness activities and community infrastructure development.
(l) Air Support to CPFs
The Air Wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs came into existence on May 1, 1969 to provide air support to CPFs for casualty evacuations, air maintenance of BOPs located at high altitude and inaccessible areas, conveyance of contingents for operational purposes and air courier service of CPFs personnel.
It consists of two wings i.e. fixed wing and Rotary wing. Both these wings have been ex panded in the last few years and further expansion is now underway. Action for procurement of 3 fixed wing aircraft through the Ministry of Defence was initiated during the year.
In addition, firm order for procurement of 8 ALH/Dhruv helicopters has been placed with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) Out of eight helicopters, 3 ALH/Dhruv helicopters have been inducted in the fleet and made operational at Ranchi and Raipur. Remaining five ALH/Dhurv helicopters were likely to be inducted in fleet of BSF by March 31, 2010.