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In March 2012 it was reported that Ministry of Home Affairs used Rs. 4,600 crores for modernising CAPFs and that Rs. 610 crores were allotted to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and north eastern states to meet security related expenditures.
On May 2, 2013, the Cabinet approved Rs 11,000- crore plan to modernise central armed police forces (CAPF) including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) which is deployed along the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control (LAC). Although the plan was conceived long ago, the timing of the approval became quite obvious in view of the recurring incidents along the LAC and also along the India-Pakistan Line of Control (LoC).
In March 2012 it was reported that Ministry of Home Affairs used Rs 4,600 crores for modernising CAPFs and that Rs 610 crores were allotted to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and other north eastern states to meet security related expenditures. The 26/11 Pakistani terrorist attack on Mumbai as well as the heavy rate of casualties that Maoists have been able to inflict on CAPFs like the CRPF, are again important wake-up calls for the process of modernisation to be implemented urgently and meaningfully.
The term paramilitary forces (PMF) was generally used to refer to a variety of armed services that aid law enforcement and the Armed Forces. The term normally included central armed police and often included some state armed police. At the Armys request, government authorised Army to provide definitive terminology, which narrowed definition of paramilitary to include only Assam Rifles, Indian Coast Guard and a third one which is classified. Since a March 2011 ruling, all others are categorized as Central Armed Police Forces.
Most of the arms, ammunition and equipment for PMFs and CAPFs including the uniforms, normal vehicles, specialised bullet-proof vehicles, troop carriers, logistics vehicles, mine protected vehicles are manufactured indigenously at Indian Ordnance Factories, a conglomerate of 41 factories, 9 training institutes, 3 Regional Marketing Centres and 4 Regional Controllers of Safety, controlled by Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) and functioning under the Department of Defence Production of Ministry of Defence. Some weapons produced under OFB for Armed Forces, PMFs and CAPFs are :
All PMF and CAPF battalions deployed in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism/against Left Wing Extremists (Maoists) are issued limited number of AK-47 assault rifles (captured from terrorists and militants in Kashmir and the N-E, besides also smaller force level purchases from the East European countries).
Para-Military Forces
ASSAM RIFLES
Assam Rifles, Indias oldest paramilitary force of 46 battalions currently, officered by Army and some its cadre officers, though commanded only by Army officers, is under administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), but under operational control of Army for performing many roles including internal security counter insurgency and border security, aid to the civil power in times of emergency, and the provision of communications, medical assistance and education in remote areas. Since 2002 it has been guarding the India-Myanmar border under the government policy of one border, one force.
With Assam Rifles being under operational command of the Army, almost all its arms and equipment are on the lines of those of infantry battalions in plains and mountainous areas. In view of the mountain strike corps to be raised to counter the rising Chinese threat, there may be some more battalions added to its existing strength.
INDIAN COAST GUARD
Indian Coast Guard was raised on 01 Feb 1977, for policing Indian waters under administrative cover of the Ministry of Defence. By the Maritime Zones of India Act, passed on 25 Aug 1976, India claimed 2.01 million sq km of sea area as its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with rights for exploration and exploitation of marine resources, both living and non-living. Territorial waters as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is a belt of coastal waters extending at most 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) from the baseline (usually the mean low-water mark) of a coastal state and the EEZ . Coast Guard, which protects the maritime and other national interests in Indias maritime zones, may often have to function in close liaison with Union agencies, institutions and authorities, as became obvious after the 26/11 Pakistani terrorist attack on Mumbai.
With a modest beginning of two old frigates seconded by the Navy and five small patrol vessels from MHA, in 1978, the Coast Guard has attained a force level of 80 ships and craft and 45 aircraft and helicopters as follows:-
l Advance Offshore Patrol Vessels 08
l Offshore Patrol Vessels 06
l Pollution Control Vessels 02
l Fast/Inshore Patrol Vessels -29
l Air Cushion Vehicles 12
l Interceptor Boats 30
l Dornier Aircraft 36
l Chetak Helicopters 24
l Advance Light Helicopters-Dhruv 04
l District hqs- 12
l Regional hqs- 5
l CG Stations- 41
l Aircraft Squadrons/air enclaves/air stations-09
All ICG personnel are trained at Indian Navy training establishments. Armaments fitted on ICG ships are mostly those produced in Indian Ordnance factories, except for some OPVs, which have the Italian Oto Melara guns. Standard small arm for ICG personnel is the 5.56 mm INSAS and most of those mentioned above.
Centrally Armed Police Forces
BORDER SECURITY FORCE
The Border Security Force came into existence on 01 Dec 1965, under K F Rustamji, its first chief and founding father, with the aim of promoting a sense of security among the people living in border areas, preventing trans border crimes, unauthorised entry into or exit from the territory of India and to prevent smuggling and any other illegal activity. Subsequently, BSF additionally began to be deployed for counter insurgency and internal security duties. Having participated in the Indo-Pak war of 1971, it has been involved in fighting insurgency and militancy in Punjab, J & K and North- East, rescue and relief during calamities and since recently, also been deployed in the areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.
BSF has been defending the borders along with the Army and checking infiltration on the borders during the current standoff with Pakistan. From a force of 25 battalions in 1965, it has today 173 Battalions. With its own Air and Water Wings, Artillery Regiments and Training Institutes, BSF is presently the largest Border Guards force of the world.
In addition to the OFB small arms mentioned, BSF has Heckler & Koch MP5, A3 9mmx19 mm Sub Machine Gun and Beretta MX4 Storm submachine guns. To replace its camels in the Thar desert, BSF reportedly conducted trials of Polaris (USA) field vehicle Ranger 800, Ranger RZR 4-800, Ranger RZW SW and sportsman models in May 2013 and found it better than the Chinese Nebula and Indian Maini Groups products tested earlier.
INDO-TIBETAN BORDER POLICE
Conceived in October 1962 quite obviously as a result of the Chinese aggression the Indo -Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was raised for security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. Beginning with four battalions, it now has 57 battalions of 1000 personnel each deployed in all three segments of the LAC from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh till Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh opposite the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. In view of the additional responsibilities and the task redefined in 1976, the Force was restructured in 1978. It is a specialized mountain force with most of its personnel professionally trained as mountaineers and skiers.
Owing to the very challenging terrain, temperature and weather conditions, under modernisation ITBP needs better sleeping bags, better snow boots, snow scooters, battlefield surveillance radars, satellite-based surveillance systems, real time imagery systems, cameras mounted on towers overlooking heights and ridges, windmills, which the high velocity winds can move to generate electricity and more infrastructure. One weapon ITBP has acquired apart from the OFB list is the UTG Gen 5 Accushot Competition Master Model 700 Pro with Upgraded Bolt FPS-450 Spring Airsoft Sniper Rifle, an US-made UTG brand product.
SASHASTRA SEEMA BAL
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was raised in early 1963 with the aim of inculcating feelings of national belonging in people living in the border areas like then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), North Assam, North Bengal, Uttar Pradesh hills , Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh. The scheme was later extended to Manipur, Tripura, Jammu (1965), Meghalaya (1975), Sikkim (1976), border areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat (1989), Manipur, Mizoram. Some more areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat (1988), South Bengal, Nagaland (1989) and Nubra Valley, Rajouri and Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir (1991) were added too. The modus was developing their capabilities for resistance through a continuous process of motivation, training, development, welfare programmes and activities. Following the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on reforming the National Security System, the SSB was declared as a border guarding force and lead intelligence agency for Indo-Nepal border (January, 2001) and Indo-Bhutan border( March, 2004).
Addressing one of the main concerns of the SSB for providing authorised infrastructure, in July 2013, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved construction of infrastructure, namely office buildings, residential buildings and Border Out Posts (BOPs), at various establishments of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) during the 12th Five Year Plan at the cost of Rs. 3,510.07 crore. This includes construction of barracks and non-residential buildings. In addition, the CCEA also approved construction of 2,000 houses and 10 barracks at 12 sites at an estimated cost of Rs. 413.88 crore.
CENTRAL RESERVE POLICE FORCE
The Central Reserve Police Force, which came into existence as Crown Representatives Police on 27th July 1939, became the Central Reserve Police Force by enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949. The Force has grown into a big organization with 207 battalions (bns), including 181 executive bns, 2 Mahila (Women) bns, 10 Rapid Action Force (RAF) bns, 6 Cobra bns (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action-special battalions raised mainly for anti-Maoist operations), 2 DM (NDRF) bns, 5 Signal bns and 1 Special Duty Group bn, 37 Group Centres, 11 Training Institutions and 4 composite 100 bed and 17 composite 50 bed hospitals.
CRPF has sent a proposal to MHA for integral helicopters, better quality of anti-landmine vehicles and more unmanned aerial vehicles.
CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE
The CISF raised in 1969 with three battalions, to provide integrated security cover to the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) over four decades, has grown to reach 1,12,000 personnel, amounting to at least 110 battalions. No longer a PSU-centric organisation, the CISF has become a premier multi-skilled security agency, mandated to provide security to major critical infrastructure installations of the country in diverse areas. CISF is currently providing security cover to nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, sensitive Government buildings and even heritage monuments. Among important responsibilities entrusted to the CISF in recent years are the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (for which 4000 more personnel have been recently authorised), VIP Security, Disaster Management and establishment of a Formed Police Unit (FPU) of the UN at Haiti.
With diverse challenges, CISF needs a far wider inventory of equipment as per its tasks mentioned. Delhi airports Perimeter Intrusion Detection System has been installed by Israel. The CISF also needs more and improved night vision devices and a separate fire fighting wing to better fire- protect 88 PSUs it guards.
All the above are seasoned security forces, which have notched many achievements in various operations and conflicts within the country and on borders, according to their role and have been conferred many gallantry awards. However, considering the levels of external support and illegal availability of sophisticated arms to terrorists they are pitched against, CAPFs need to be far better trained and equipped with weapons, mobility and communications. Any CAPF being inducted into Jammu & Kashmir, North East or Naxal threatened areas must get pre-induction training at any of the Armys battle training schools or the Kanker-based Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College. With Pakistans military supported terrorists circulating all over India, modernising PMFs and CAPFs will not be enough till state police forces, which operate with them or by themselves against terrorists, are not also modernised. All state police need to be removed from their archaic mould and given a total makeover so that they are effective and earn the publics trust. Former DGP, Assam, Mr. Prakash Singh, IPS (retd) in a discussion with this writer stated: The CAPFs must have better infrastructure and their transport, communications and weaponry will need to be upgraded. Modernisation of forces will be the key. It must be added however that the forces would also require political support and legal protection. The shortage of manpower at the ground level (particularly of state police) must be met immediately. The United Nations has prescribed an average of 222 policemen per lakh (1,00,000) of population. As against this, we have only 128 policemen per lakh of population in the country. Weapons have been acquired but in a somewhat haphazard manner. Training is still a much neglected area with the most unwanted officers being posted in the training academies. Computerisation has made slow progress. Forensic support is quite inadequate.
The 1999 Kargil war brought out some major drawbacks in the 5.56 mm INSAS. The rifle jammed, its polymer magazine cracked in the cold, it would go full automatic when set for a three-round burst. Many soldiers remained unconvinced about the stopping power of its 5.56 mm bullet and missed their heavy 7.62s. Reportedly, INSAS is an amalgam of several models- Russian AK-47, G41, AUG and SA80 designs-and also not configured with modern engineering production techniques. It is also expensive, as manufacturing necessitated importing costly additional machinery. In the 1990s, an OFB INSAS costed Rs 20,000, whereas the Bulgarian AK-47 costed a mere Rs 2800.
The Army and all other forces are looking forward to replacing 9mm carbine, but have not decided on which brand to acquire as yet.
With officials of the ministry and the forces mentioned being too tight-lipped, particularly about replacements/new acquisitions, and space constraints, it is not easy to record all of them. However, both those planned and those that are in progress must be expedited and not be allowed to drag on till the items get overtaken by newer versions, or their budget lapses.
PMF MODERNISATION: Retooling the PMFs and CAPFs - Defence and Security of India
