Central forces only for emergencies, MHA says in note to states

Vicky Nanjappa, OI, October 19, 2017: The Union Government has made it clear that paramilitary forces cannot substitute the police and should be deployed only during emergencies. The communication from the Ministry for Home Affairs came following a tussle with the West Bengal government over the deployment of central forces at Darjeeling.

The MHA note to states also directed the setting up of a committee to examine requirements of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) by keeping in view the internal security, intelligence inputs and availability of central forces in nearby locations.

The Union Government has formulated a standard operating procedure for the deployment of CAPFs, the note said. The central forces will be able to meet more pressing commitments such as guarding borders, fighting insurgency, anti-national operations and in related situations which need immediate mobilisation of forces. "CAPFs can't substitute the state police force, as their deployment is related to emergency crisis in states for maintaining law and order," the MHA also added.