The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will provide assistance to Tamil Nadu and Kerala in anti Naxal and Maoist operations if the respective State police forces placed a request, according to M.V. Rao, Inspector General (Southern Sector) of the CRPF.
Responding to questions on whether the Tamil Nadu or Kerala police had sought assistance following suspected Naxal movements in their border, he told journalists here on Tuesday that the CRPF were yet to receive any such request.
“The Maoist/Naxal issues are primarily the responsibility of State Governments. Even in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Telangana and Chhattisgarh borders where the CRPF had been deployed in counter-insurgency operations, it was only assisting the respective police forces and was carrying only in preventive operations,” he said.
Further, the arms and equipment was being upgraded on a needs-basis and was being accorded high priority. The training of the CRPF would also be upgraded continuously in keeping with the evolving needs of the country.
Mr. Rao was in Coimbatore to take part in the 12th batch passing out parade of Departmentally Enlisted Gazetted Officers from the CRPF’s Central Training College here on Tuesday.
A total of 45 Assistant Commandant Cadets passed out in the batch. Their basic training course began on July 2014 and included jungle exercises, policing and anti-terrorism. Subjects related to internal security and global terrorism were also dealt with.
The trainees were also sensitised to human rights, gender bias and social issues.
Best cadet
The Inspector General also reviewed the parade. Santosh Kumar of the 130 Battalion from Uttar Pradesh was selected as the best all-round trainee. Amar Kant Kumar, 129 Battalion of Bihar, was selected as the best cadet in weapon training.