Hyderabad: Special Rapid Action Force launched to control riots

City Rapid Action Force (CRAF) was exclusively launched on Saturday by the Hyderabad police which is set up to deal with rampage, controlling crowd and to carry out relief and rescue operations. The force was formed with a motto ‘Serving Humanity with Sensitive Policing.’

"The CRAF personnels have been selected based on their maturity, quick reflexes and unbiased views. They have to take decisions quickly and act in response time. Currently, there are 40 CRAF personnels which include 20 male and 20 female, who are specialised trained officers of the rank of a police constable," said a police officer.

The CRAF was launched by the City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar at his office. Additional Commissioner M Shiva Prasad, Additional CP (Crimes) Shika Goel and Additional CP (Law and Order) DS Chauhan have also participated in the launch event.

According to a press release, CRAF will be deployed only by the orders of the Commissioner of Police on specific duties only, and are normally not deployed for a long duration. This unit will be used to deal with communal violence, law and order duties, festival and election duties and agitations for carrying out prompt rescue and relief operations as and when required.

A mock drill to control rampages like teargas, water cannon, lathi-charge and mounted police using batons was performed after the event.