The Rapid Action Force (RAF), a government controlled military unit and a specialised wing of the Central Reserve Police Force of India to deal with riot and crowd control situations.[2]
RAF was raised on 11 December 1991 with headquarters in New Delhi. It became fully operational on 7 October 1992, to deal with riots, riot like situations, crowd control, rescue and relief operations, and related unrest.[2][3] The first five battalions were raised by October 1992 and an additional 5 battalions were added in April 1994. In October 2003, with 11 years of service, the force was presented with the President's colours.[2] On 9 November 2013, the RAF Academy of Public Order was established in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.[4][5] In 2017, the Indian government approved an additional five battalions to be based in New Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.[6]
OrganizationEdit
RAF is commanded by an Inspector-General of Police (IGP), functioning at New Delhi. The RAF is divided into two ranges headed by a DIGP at New Delhi and Mumbai. The RAF has a distinctive uniform with a blue-coloured camouflage pattern which symbolizes peace. Its motto is "Serving Humanity with Sensitive Policing".
It currently has 15 specialized trained and equipped battalions, which are numbered 83, 91, 97, 99 to 108, 114 and 194 in the CRPF. Each battalion is headed by a Commanding Officer (CO), an officer of the rank of Commandant.[2] The RAF Battalions of CRPF are located at the following places:[7]
S. No.
State
Location
Unit
1
Rajasthan
Jaipur
83 RAF
2
Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi
91 RAF
3
Karnataka
Shimoga
97 RAF
4
Telangana
Rangareddy
99 RAF
5
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
100 RAF
6
Uttar Pradesh
Allahabad
101 RAF
7
Maharashtra
Mumbai
102 RAF
8
Delhi
Wazirabad
103 RAF
9
Uttar Pradesh
Aligarh
104 RAF
10
Tamil Nadu
Coimbatore
105 RAF
11
Jharkhand
Jamshedpur
106 RAF
12
Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal
107 RAF
13
Uttar Pradesh
Meerut
108 RAF
14
Bihar
Hajipur Vaishali
114 RAF
15
Haryana
Nuh
194 RAF
Team is the smallest independent functional unit of the force and is commanded by an Inspector. Each team has three components, namely riot control, tear some and fire. Each company of RAF has one team composed of women personnel to deal with women demonstrators.[2]
The force is equipped with non-lethal weapons for dispersing the crowd with minimum harm and losses. It is always kept in readiness for rapid deployment when the situation so demands and are only deployed by the orders of Ministry of Home Affairs on specific demands from state governments for a short duration.[8]
Horse Mounted personnel of the RAF for riot-control
RoleEdit
Riot and crowd controlEdit
This unit has been used to deal with communal violence, law and order duty, festival and election duties and agitation.[6]
United Nations Peace Keeping OperationsEdit
The CRPF female and male contingents under the arrangements of RAF are deployed in United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Monrovia and Zwedru in UN Peacekeeping mission since 2007–08. CRPF Female Formed Police Unit was the first of its kind in the world, which was deployed under the aegis of UN Peace Keeping Mission.[2]
Humanitarian activitiesEdit
A 2017 stamp dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Rapid Action Force
RAF has also succeeded in projecting the human face of the Government and built bridges with the public by carrying out prompt rescue and relief operations during floods, earthquakes, cyclones and outbreak of epidemics in various parts of the country.[2]
^. www.crpf.nic.in. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^ abcdefg"RAF Sector | Directorate General | Dte/Zone | Central Reserve Police Force, Government of India". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
^"Rapid Action Force (RAF)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
^"RAF Academy of Public Order inaugurated in Meerut". Jagranjosh.com. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
^ANI (10 November 2013). "Shinde inaugurates 'RAF Academy of Public Order' in Meerut". Business Standard India. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
^ ab"RAF adding 5 new battalions to tackle increasing cases of violence". hindustantimes.com/. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
^"Annual Report Ministry of Home Affairs 2019-2020" (PDF). mha.gov.in. MHA. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
^"Annual Report Ministry of Home Affairs 2019-2020" (PDF). mha.gov.in. MHA. Retrieved 5 January 2022. The RAF Coys (Companies) are deployed on the request of State Governments for law and order duties, maintenance of peace during various festivals and communal riots, etc. on a short-term basis.
^Dutta, Anshuman G. (11 August 2009) Armed only with a wireless set, she rushed in to face terrorists. Archive.mid-day.com. Retrieved on 2018-12-26.
October 14, 2023
rapid, action, force, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, novem. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Rapid Action Force news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Rapid Action Force RAF a government controlled military unit and a specialised wing of the Central Reserve Police Force of India to deal with riot and crowd control situations 2 Rapid Action ForceEmblem of Rapid Action ForceCommon nameRAFMotto Serving Humanity with Sensitive Policing Agency overviewFormed11 December 1991Volunteers1 00 000 Active PersonnelJurisdictional structureOperations jurisdictionIndiaGoverning bodyMinistry of Home Affairs India Operational structureHeadquartersNew Delhi IndiaMinister responsibleAmit Shah Union Home MinisterAgency executiveAnnie Abraham Inspector General of Police RAFParent agencyCentral Reserve Police Force 1 NotablesAnniversary7 OctoberWebsiteRAF website Contents 1 History 2 Organization 3 Role 3 1 Riot and crowd control 3 2 United Nations Peace Keeping Operations 3 3 Humanitarian activities 3 4 Anti terror operations 4 ReferencesHistory EditRAF was raised on 11 December 1991 with headquarters in New Delhi It became fully operational on 7 October 1992 to deal with riots riot like situations crowd control rescue and relief operations and related unrest 2 3 The first five battalions were raised by October 1992 and an additional 5 battalions were added in April 1994 In October 2003 with 11 years of service the force was presented with the President s colours 2 On 9 November 2013 the RAF Academy of Public Order was established in Meerut Uttar Pradesh 4 5 In 2017 the Indian government approved an additional five battalions to be based in New Delhi Haryana Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh and Bihar 6 Organization EditRAF is commanded by an Inspector General of Police IGP functioning at New Delhi The RAF is divided into two ranges headed by a DIGP at New Delhi and Mumbai The RAF has a distinctive uniform with a blue coloured camouflage pattern which symbolizes peace Its motto is Serving Humanity with Sensitive Policing It currently has 15 specialized trained and equipped battalions which are numbered 83 91 97 99 to 108 114 and 194 in the CRPF Each battalion is headed by a Commanding Officer CO an officer of the rank of Commandant 2 The RAF Battalions of CRPF are located at the following places 7 S No State Location Unit1 Rajasthan Jaipur 83 RAF2 Uttar Pradesh Varanasi 91 RAF3 Karnataka Shimoga 97 RAF4 Telangana Rangareddy 99 RAF5 Gujarat Ahmedabad 100 RAF6 Uttar Pradesh Allahabad 101 RAF7 Maharashtra Mumbai 102 RAF8 Delhi Wazirabad 103 RAF9 Uttar Pradesh Aligarh 104 RAF10 Tamil Nadu Coimbatore 105 RAF11 Jharkhand Jamshedpur 106 RAF12 Madhya Pradesh Bhopal 107 RAF13 Uttar Pradesh Meerut 108 RAF14 Bihar Hajipur Vaishali 114 RAF15 Haryana Nuh 194 RAFTeam is the smallest independent functional unit of the force and is commanded by an Inspector Each team has three components namely riot control tear some and fire Each company of RAF has one team composed of women personnel to deal with women demonstrators 2 The force is equipped with non lethal weapons for dispersing the crowd with minimum harm and losses It is always kept in readiness for rapid deployment when the situation so demands and are only deployed by the orders of Ministry of Home Affairs on specific demands from state governments for a short duration 8 nbsp Horse Mounted personnel of the RAF for riot controlRole EditRiot and crowd control Edit This unit has been used to deal with communal violence law and order duty festival and election duties and agitation 6 United Nations Peace Keeping Operations Edit The CRPF female and male contingents under the arrangements of RAF are deployed in United Nations Mission in Liberia UNMIL Monrovia and Zwedru in UN Peacekeeping mission since 2007 08 CRPF Female Formed Police Unit was the first of its kind in the world which was deployed under the aegis of UN Peace Keeping Mission 2 Humanitarian activities Edit nbsp A 2017 stamp dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Rapid Action ForceRAF has also succeeded in projecting the human face of the Government and built bridges with the public by carrying out prompt rescue and relief operations during floods earthquakes cyclones and outbreak of epidemics in various parts of the country 2 Anti terror operations Edit During the November 2008 Mumbai Terror Attacks RAF was involved in cordoning the areas around the Oberoi Trident and the Taj Mahal hotels Kamlesh Kumari of the 88 Mahila Battalion was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for her bravery during the 2001 Indian Parliament attack 9 References Edit RAF Sector Directorate General Dte Zone Central Reserve Police Force Government of India www crpf nic in Archived from the original on 6 October 2017 Retrieved 12 January 2022 a b c d e f g RAF Sector Directorate General Dte Zone Central Reserve Police Force Government of India crpf gov in Retrieved 7 January 2022 Rapid Action Force RAF GlobalSecurity org Retrieved 26 November 2008 RAF Academy of Public Order inaugurated in Meerut Jagranjosh com 10 November 2013 Retrieved 6 October 2017 ANI 10 November 2013 Shinde inaugurates RAF Academy of Public Order in Meerut Business Standard India Retrieved 6 October 2017 a b RAF adding 5 new battalions to tackle increasing cases of violence hindustantimes com 22 September 2017 Retrieved 6 October 2017 Annual Report Ministry of Home Affairs 2019 2020 PDF mha gov in MHA Retrieved 5 January 2022 Annual Report Ministry of Home Affairs 2019 2020 PDF mha gov in MHA Retrieved 5 January 2022 The RAF Coys Companies are deployed on the request of State Governments for law and order duties maintenance of peace during various festivals and communal riots etc on a short term basis Dutta Anshuman G 11 August 2009 Armed only with a wireless set she rushed in to face terrorists Archive mid day com Retrieved on 2018 12 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rapid Action Force amp oldid 1179950723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
