A platoon of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised wing of the Central Reserve Police Force, has embarked on a familiarisation exercise on the topography of the district and equip themselves with information essential for dealing with communal riots and riot-like situation effectively.
Headed by an officer of the rank of a Deputy Commandant, the RAF team consisting of over 45 men and officers is provided with necessary support by the district police in their mission.
Belonging to the 105th Battalion based in Coimbatore, the RAF squad which landed here on Monday will conclude their week-long familiarisation exercise on March 30.
The RAF is a trained force of the Central Reserve Police Force constituted to tackle communal riots and riot-like situations and render succour to the innocent persons ravaged by riots besides undertaking rescue operations.
Attired in blue fatigues, the RAF personnel set out on their familiarisation exercise accompanied by district police officers on Tuesday visiting Tiruverambur, Thuvakudi, and Manikandam police stations as well as to areas identified as sensitive and critical falling within the limits of these stations.
As part of their exercise, the team would inspect vital installations and residential localities besides getting to know the entry and exit points of the “sensitive” areas, police sources here said.
The exercise is carried out on a direction from the Ministry of Home Affairs in order to perform their assigned task and equip with necessary information essential for dealing with communal riots and riot-like situations effectively.
They would gather vital information pertaining to the profile of the district during their mission. The team would visit all sub divisions falling within the district and interact with villagers.
They would note down the distance between police stations, distance between the district headquarters and the police stations, important routes and alternative routes and gather information on the composition of the population besides ascertaining details of communal riots or riot-like situations, if any, reported in the past.
The objective of the exercise is to take positions without loss of time whenever the services of the RAF were requisitioned during crisis situations, say sources.
On a direction from the State police headquarters, accommodation and other basic amenities required for the RAF team during their period of stay in Tiruchi has been provided by the police.
