The Central Reserve Police Force is likely to take over all internal security duties across the country by 2008, a senior official said Thursday. The CRPF has deployed 175 battalions at various places in the country.
Fifteen battalions are undergoing training and another 10 will be raised by the end of 2008, Inspector General of Police (Southern Sector) C Balasubramaniam told reporters in Coimbatore. These 25 CRPF battalions would relieve an equal number of BSF battalions deployed in Jammu and Kashmir in a phased manner, and the CRPF would take over all internal security duties under the "one force one duty concept", Balasubramaniam said.
With the raising of its 200th battalion by 2007-end, the CRPF will become the biggest paramilitary force in the country in terms of strength, he said.
Balasubramaniam, who was here to witness the presentation of a vehicle fitted with fully mechanised mobile kitchens, said the force has no plans to raise more women's battalions. It currently has two such battalions. To a question whether the CRPF's strength was adequate to tackle increasing subversive activities and natural calamities, he said the force was geared up to meet any challenge.