For the 600-odd personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) who have been posted here for the last one year, the city has become their home away from home. The six companies of CRPF drawn from various battalions were posted here as a precautionary measure to handle the Seemandhra agitation. Now, their stay has been extended in view of the local body and general elections.
Though away from home for quite some time, the men in camouflage battle fatigues appear to enjoy their stay at ‘Blazewada’. “It has never been a difficult situation for us to adjust to local environs. Each unit of us is a ‘mini Bharat’, as a unit comprises men from different states,” said an Inspector.
They are at present relishing idli sambar and dosa that are ubiquitous at every street corner and have picked up a few Telugu words.
“We have colleagues from different States in our unit right from Punjab to Tamil Nadu and from Bengal to Maharashtra. But, for a few like us from the northern part of the country, who have been brought on the staple diet of roti and daal, the spicy idli-sambar is a delicacy. And, we enjoy conversing with the locals with the little Telugu that we have picked up,” said a Havildar.
For many, the stay in Vijayawada is a sojourn from violence and life of stress. Several personnel have served in conflict zones such as Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, which is considered to be the Maoist hotbed, besides Jammu Kashmir and the forward areas of the north-east. Appreciating the behaviour of the denizens, an inspector said: “The city or even for that matter the entire district is a peaceful place. The people are peace loving, and we had not faced any delicate situation even during the peak of the agitation. The people are cooperative, and they listen to our instructions and even the local police who serve as our local guides are very friendly.”
