CRPF, BSF bhai-bhai: Brothers to head forces

RPK

Indyakudimahan
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...others-to-head-forces/articleshow/5514980.cms


NEW DELHI: For the first time ever, two brothers are set to lead the country's two biggest paramilitary forces -- Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force -- with around 370,000 men under their command.

The brothers -- both IPS officers of the 1973 batch -- are set to make history with the government on Friday deciding to appoint the younger one, Vikram Srivastava, as the chief of India's largest paramilitary force, CRPF, at a time when his elder brother Raman Srivastava is heading the country's second largest paramilitary force, BSF.

Though Vikram is currently director general of ITBP, his elevation as CRPF chief will present a unique combination of brothers being heads of the top two paramilitary forces in the country.

Incidentally, both the forces were once seen as `competitors' when they were deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states with BSF claiming to be better equipped and trained to handle insurgency.

The rivalry appeared to end when the government decided to make CRPF the sole counter-insurgency force, leaving BSF to concentrate on the borders. However, BSF is of late being roped in to assist CRPF in some anti-Naxal operations

While Vikram, who earlier served in CRPF at different positions, is from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Raman is from the Kerala cadre. Raman will retire in October next year while the younger brother has over two years to go before superannuation.

Vikram will take over as CRPF director general on Sunday on the retirement of A S Gill -- a 1972 batch officer who had become the chief of the largest central force in February last year. Vikram was appointed director general of ITBP on May 7, 2008.

Vikram's appointment as CRPF chief comes at a time when the Centre is in the middle of an attritional battle against Naxals across seven states. Besides being the main central paramilitary force which is coordinating anti-Naxal operations across the country, CRPF has been the main counter-insurgency force in J&K and northeastern states.

On the other hand, BSF, which guards the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, too has recently been roped in to assist states in anti-Naxal operations.

Director general of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) R K Bhatia, IPS officer of 1974 batch from UP cadre, will take over from Vikram as the new ITBP chief.
 

Agantrope

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Already posted in Indian Paramilitary News and Discussion thread.
 

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