New Delhi, CRPF, the country’s largest paramilitary force, is mulling reintroducing the military ranks of lance naik and naik, 30 years after they were abolished, to address delayed promotions and accommodate Agniveers retiring from the Army, officials said on Saturday.
The lance naik and naik ranks were abolished in the force in 1997 and merged with the police ranks of constable and head constable through a Ministry of Home Affairs order. Currently, there are more than 20 subordinate officers in a battalion of more than 1,000 men and women, and hence such a policy move should keep in mind the regimentation and operational efficiency of a unit, the commandanrt said.
The Central Reserve Police Force headquarters has asked hundreds of field formations of the force across the country to conduct stakeholder meetings or ‘Sainik Sammelans’ and obtain the views of the personnel in this context in two days, they told PTI. The move is also understood to be aimed at making the CRPF service attractive for the Agniveers from the Army, whose first batch will begin retiring later this year, and will be eligible to join the Central Armed Police Forces , including the CRPF, the officials said.
