Gurgaon, February 16: After 55 weeks of rigorous training, surrounded by proud family members, 78 directly appointed gazetted officers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) tossed their caps in the air after their passing out parade.
It was the 40th passing out parade of the CRPF in Kadarpur, Gurgaon, but for each one of them and their families, it was something special.
Of the 78 officers, all of whom will be appointed assistant commandants, Manisha Pathak and Pallavi Sharma, were the two women officers who passed out in this batch.
The direct appointment of gazetted officers in the CRPF started in 1961 and the cadets would be trained at the National Police Academy and the Central Training College, Neemach, in Madhya Pradesh.
Then, in 1975, the Internal Security Academy in Mount Abu, Rajasthan, became the training ground for the cadets.
The award for the ‘best in weapon training’ was given to Harish Dafauti and Manish Kumar got the ‘best in tactics award’. Narshi Meena was awarded the ‘best in endurance award’.
“They are expected to be sent to Naxal areas as they have been given additional training for the present day security issues that we are facing,” a CRPF officer said. The recruits have been trained in jungle and urban warfare and for rough terrain as well.
The passing out parade was attended by the Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda who took the salute.
In his speech at the event, Hooda praised the bravery and the commitment of CRPF jawans. “The CRPF has a glorious history of sacrifice, patriotism and service to the nation. Whether it is combating terrorism, Naxalism or separatism, CRPF has always done the nation proud,” Hooda said.
The chief minister also released the newsletter of the CRPF Academy, Kadarpur, and honoured candidates who had excelled in the course.
Hooda also announced that a 1000 sq yard shooting range was under construction at the CRPF academy, Kadarpur, where the Queens Matches of Shooting would be held during the Commonwealth Games.
The parade on Monday was attended by CRPF Director General, Vikram Shrivastava, Deputy Inspector General of Police, J S Gill, who administered oath to the cadets on Monday, Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperation, Sukhbir Kataria, Municipal Corporation Commissioner, R K Khullar, Divisional Commissioner, T K Sharma, HUDA Administrator, Deepti Umashankar, and Deputy Commissioner, Rajender Kataria.
—-Agencies