CRPF Shaurya Diwas: Honouring selfless acts of India's bravehearts; history & significance

CRPF Valour Day is observed every year on 9th of April. It is known as Shaurya Diwas, as it is to commemorate and honours brave men and women who have selflessly served  nation.  Central Reserve Police Force, which is India’s largest central armed police force unit and comes under Ministry Of Home Affairs (MHA), is celebrating its 58th Valour Day. It has around 246 battalions and over 30,000 personnel.

major responsibility of CRPF is to support state and Union territory police forces. CRPF personnel are assigned by government to different locations across India, and ir main duty is to uphold rule of law in country and fight insurgency in affected regions of country. CRPF is also assigned to assist in protecting government sites and locations against any form of threat and resistance.

CRPF Valour Day: History and Significance

On intervening night of April 8 and April 9 1965, 3,500 members of Pakistan’s 51st Infantry brige launched Operation “Desert Hawk” against border operations in Rann of Kutch. For first time, a full-fledged infantry brige engaged Pakistani army in a battle and came out victorious. A total of six members of CRPF were martyred in conflict. 

It was bravery of he constable Bhawana Ram, who was stationed at edge of Sardar post, that led to elimination of an intruder at  post. Around 34 Pakistani soldiers died in conflict. Every year this day is observed to recognise bravery and heroics of those soldiers.

CRPF's primary role is to assist state and union territories in maintaining law and order situation and counter-insurgency ops. It came into existence as Crown’s representative police on 27th July 1939. After Independence, it was named CRPF on enactment of CRPF Act on December 28, 1949. 

CRPF also participated in Sri Lanka Peace-Keeping Operations; y were sent as part of UN peacekeeping forces to Maldives, Somalia, Namibia and Haiti. y contributed to maintaining political stability in Haiti as part of Haiti mission. Under Liberia mission, a fully operational Female police unit was sent re in 2007.  To combat Naxalite movement in region, CRPF established a branch known as Commando Battalion for Resolute Action in 2008.