‘Paramilitary forces do tougher task than Army’

Used to criticism each time militant and insurgent groups carry out a successful attack, the nation’s paramilitary forces came in for some rare praise today with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil saying their job was more difficult than the Army.

Speaking at the Valour Day function of the CRPF here on Monday, Patil said these forces performed a tougher task than the Army since they battled terrorists and at the same time protected the lives of innocent civilians. Praising the CRPF, he recalled the Parliament attack and spoke of the extreme alertness shown by personnel deployed there. Valour Day is observed on April

9 every year to mark the heroic effort by a group of CRPF personnel at Sardar Post in 1965. The group repulsed an attack by a full Pakistani infantry brigade to take over the crucial location in the Rann of Kutch.

The Union Home Minister also presented gallantry award to CRPF personnel. CRPF Director General SIS Ahmed, DIG C V Mathew, Union Minister of State for Home Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and DGs from other paramilitary forces were also present.