ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
- INDO-TIBETAN BORDER POLICE: Setup in 1962 in the wake of Chinese aggression. In view of the additional responsibilities the force was restructured in 1978. The entire stretch of Indo-China border comprising 3488 kms, has been assigned to ITBP for Border Guarding duty and accordingly it replaced Assam Rifles in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in 2004-05. ITBP is basically a mountain trained force and most of the officers and men are professionally trained mountaineers and skiers.
- BORDER SECURITY FORCE: Setup in 1965 by amalgamation of various state police battalions into BSF. Presently it is manning international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- ASSAM RIFLES: Raised as Catchar Levy in 1835 is the oldest Central Para Military Force in India. The Force was raised primarily to guard the alluvial plains of Assam from the wild and unruly tribes inhabiting the surrounding hill tracts. It is fondly called “The Sentinel of the North-East” and “Friends of the Hill People”. It has a dual role of maintaining internal security in the north-eastern region and guarding the Indo-Myanmar border.
- NATIONAL SECURITY GUARD: NSG was and created after studying and analysing Special Force like SAS in the United Kingdom, GIGN in France, GSG-9 in Germany. Shar-et-matkal in Israel and Delta Force in the USA. Accordingly, NSG was raised in 1985 as a Federal Contingency Force under the MHA. It consists of selected and highly motivated personnel from army & central armed police. NSG’s motto of Sarvatra Sarvotam Suraksha.
- CENTRAL RESERVE POLICE FORCE: CRPF was formed in 1939 at Neemuch as the Crown Representatives Police. Every year 21st October is observed as the Police Commemoration Day. It has also been deployed internationally at Kosovo, Haiti, Sri Lanka & UN Peacekeeping force. For the first time in the history of UN, a fully formed women’s unit is posted in Liberia as a part of United Nations Peacekeeping Mission. The bulk of the force is deployed in Jammu and Kashmir; left wing extremism affected states and in north-eastern states. It presently has 10 Cobra units, a specially trained force to fight the naxal means.
- RAPID ACTION FORCE: Presidential colour to Rapid Action Force (RAF) was presented in October 2003. CRPF is the first central armed police force who has two Presidential colours. RAF was raised to deal with communal problems and continues to deal with militancy in J&K, north-east, overseas deployment for UN Peace Keeping in Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo.
- CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE: Raised in 1969, CISF is providing security cover to 303 units including 59 domestic and international airports and fire protection cover to 87 industrial undertakings. CISF is currently providing security cover to atomic power plants, space installations, defence production units, mines, oil fields and refineries etc. It the largest fire protection service providers in the country. 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.
- SASHASTRA SEEMA BAL: SSB is the newest border guarding force of Union entrusted with the guarding of Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders. Came into existence in 1963.
- CIVIL DEFENCE: It is primarily organized on voluntary basis except for a small nucleus of paid staff. It has accorded the additional role in field of disaster management. Civil Defence volunteers are in various constructive and nation building activities – including providing assistance to administration, mitigation of natural, manmade disasters.
- HOME GUARDS: It is a voluntary force, first raised in India in 1946, to assist the police in controlling civil disturbances and communal riots. Subsequently, the concept of the voluntary citizens force was adopted by several States. Home Guards are of two types-rural and urban. In border States, Border Wing Home Guard Battalions have also been raised, which serve as an auxiliary to the Border Security Force. The organisation is Spread over in all the states except in Kerala.
