Patna: Bihar Police Headquarters has planned a new anti-riot response arrangement to deal with violent protests, road blockades, attacks on government property and other crowd-control situations.
Under the plan, 49 anti-riot companies, also referred to as Riot Control Units, will be formed across the state by categorising districts into A, B and C groups.
The units will be equipped with trained personnel and dedicated vehicles. A total of 294 vehicles are proposed for the anti-riot deployment.
Three Platoons In Each Company
Each anti-riot company will comprise three platoons, with 47 police personnel in each platoon.
The teams will include tear gas squads, lathi squads, armed personnel, drivers, wireless operators and other trained staff. Women police personnel, medical and ambulance teams, and videography personnel may also be deployed when required.
Each platoon will receive two vehicles, including a bus and a truck.
Different Deployment For District Categories
The number of companies and vehicles will depend on the district’s category.
Patna, classified under the A category, will receive three companies and 18 vehicles.
Gaya, Rohtas, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Motihari, Bettiah, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur and Bhagalpur are among the identified districts that will receive two companies and 12 vehicles each.
B-category districts will receive one company and six vehicles each, while C-category districts will have one platoon and two vehicles each.
Teams To Reach Spot Within 20 Minutes
Under the proposed response mechanism, information about a riot or violent incident will be relayed immediately through the district control room.
The anti-riot squad will then be dispatched to the designated location within 20 minutes of receiving the information.
After reaching the spot, the team will assess the situation continuously in coordination with the senior police officer present and take action according to the circumstances.
Specialised Training Planned
Police personnel selected for the squads will undergo specialised training at their respective district police centres.
The initial training will last one month. Each platoon will subsequently undergo a one-week refresher course every three months to maintain operational readiness.
The arrangement is intended to strengthen the police response to crowd-related law-and-order situations and ensure that trained personnel and necessary equipment can be mobilised quickly when required.
