CRPF Marks 87th Raising Day in Assam; Amit Shah Hails Force’s Role in National Security

Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday began his address with patriotic chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” as he extended greetings from the soil of Assam on the 87th Raising Day of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Paying tribute to the force’s 86 years of distinguished service, Shah said the CRPF has played a pivotal role in strengthening India’s internal security architecture. He thanked every CRPF jawan for their dedication, noting that their sacrifices have fortified the nation’s internal stability.

Shah highlighted the force’s contribution across three key sectors, namely the Jammu and Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, and the Northeast, asserting that peace has steadily returned to these regions. He said nearly 700 CRPF personnel laid down their lives in the Northeast, 540 in Jammu and Kashmir, and 79 in Assam alone, with a total of 2,270 personnel making the supreme sacrifice over the years.

For the first time in its 86-year history, the CRPF parade was held in Assam, Shah noted, recalling that a 2019 decision paved the way for celebrating the Raising Day at different locations across the country.

During the ceremony, 14 personnel were awarded gallantry medals, five received distinguished service medals, and five units were honoured as the best contingents.

Shah underlined that from an initial strength of two battalions, the CRPF has expanded to 243 battalions with around 389,000 personnel deployed nationwide. He credited the force for maintaining peace in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 and for its role in restoring order in Manipur during ethnic unrest.

Reaffirming the government’s resolve, Shah said left-wing extremism would be eradicated by 31 March 2026. He also lauded the CRPF’s role in securing high-profile sites such as Parliament in Delhi, the Ram Temple, and major events, including the Amarnath Yatra and the Mahakumbh Mela, often under extreme weather conditions.

Later, in the afternoon, the Union Minister will lay the foundation stone for a new campus of the 10th Assam Police Battalion at Kachutoli, a nearby area of Guwahati. The battalion is currently functioning from Guwahati and will shift to the newly developed premises once construction is completed.

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