Central Reserve Police Force ( CRPF )

The design of the stamp depicts the late Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru inspecting CRPF Guard of Honour at Neemuch in 1954. The design of First Day Cover depicts the CRPF personnel patrolling inhospitable terrain in Arunachal Pradesh. The Stamp and First Day Cover have been designed on the basis of material supplied by the CRPF. The stamp is released to commemorate completion of fifty years of the CRPF.
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The Central Reserve Police Force was created on July 27, 1939, as Crown Representative Police at Neemuch (M.P.) with one Battalion mainly to assist the Princely states to maintain law and order. After independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Home Minister, visualised a multi-dimensional role for the Force and rechristened it as Central Reserve Police Force.

Since inception the Force has been assisting the states in the maintenance of law and order with great success. In the pre-independence era the Force was deployed in Sind (1942-44) to deal with the Hur menace. The Force was presented colours by the President in 1950 in recognition of its glorious record of service. From 1950-59, the Force was widely used to defend the borders against Pakistani intruders, and in the agitation in Kashmir valley. It faced the first brunt of the Chinese attack in 1959, when ten of its personnel laid down their lives fighting the Chinese on 21.10.59 at Hot Springs. In their memory October 21 is observed as Police Commemoration Day all over the country. In 1965, the Force repulsed the Pakistani attack at Sardar Post in Rann-of-Kutch. It fought shoulder to shoulder with the Army in the 1971 war against Pakistan for the liberation of Bangla Desh. Besides, the Force has been of very effective assistance in fighting divisive, disruptive and communal forces threatening the unity and integrity of the country, particularly the insurgency in the Northeast, Naxalism in West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and terrorism in Punjab. It is also assisting the IPKF in Sri Lanka. It has captured over 4263 weapons since 1983. The Force has the reputation of impartiality in assisting in the conduct of General Elections and providing relief and rescue during natural calamities and disasters.

For the various achievements, gallantry and sacrifices the Force personnel have been awarded 107 President's Police Medals, 216 Police Medals, One Padma Shri, One Vir Chakra, 3 Sena Medals and 54 Life Saving Medal. It has also won laurels in the field of sports and has Olympians in its ranks.

The Force, having drawn men of all castes, creeds and regions of the country, not only contributes to national integration, but is also known for its secular, unbiased, impartial, dedicated and disciplined discharge of duties. Its strength now exceeds one lakh twenty thousand, comprising 98 battalions apart from 19 group centres, training institutions, work shops, hospitals etc. It also has the distinction of raising the first ever Mahila Battalion.

courtesy- indiapick