CRPF to deploy women personnel to cover security of female candidates

After the completion of 10-week long training of the first batch of 33 women personnel, priority would be to deploy the women personnel for the security of the women dignitaries during their upcoming election rallies

New Delhi:Ahead of Assembly polls slated to be held next year in five states, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given approval to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to induct women personnel to accord security cover to VIPs. After MHA's approval, the CRPF will soon begin a 10-week long training of the first batch of 33 women personnel.

"Initially six platoons of women personnel will be raised," an action plan submitted by the force in MHA said.

As per sources, after the completion of training, priority would be to deploy the women personnel for the security of the women dignitaries during their upcoming election rallies. The force is currently responsible for security cover to more than 60 VIPs, including Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh.

"The attack on political leaders during the West Bengal election rallies was a major concern for the forces deployed for security. Getting women personnel for the security of VVIPs is a welcome step," said a former paramilitary force official.

The approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the induction of women CRPF personnel was given after CRPF DG Kuldip Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah last month in the North Block while discussing the future plans of the force.

Last year, the CRPF had created a new VIP security wing, to focus only on security-related matters. The independent VIP security wing is being headed by the Inspector General rank officer duly assisted by one Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and other corresponding staff under the supervision of the Additional Director General (ADG) of Police.

In February, 34 women personnel of the CRPF had joined the Commando Battalion for Resolution Action (CoBRA), the elite CRPF component specialising in jungle warfare and counter-Naxal operations. The force, with a strength of about 3.25 lakh personnel, is the country's largest paramilitary force. It is a dedicated internal security combat unit and is also posted in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-terror operation.