Chennai: Following a request from the Maharashtra government, the Centre has deployed its forces to help local police enforce lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
According to sources, thirty two companies of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) have already been deployed in Maharashtra and are working in tandem with the state police. More are on the way, it is said.
The Maharashtra government had requested the Centre to deploy CAPF in the State so that its police personnel, who are overworked during the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, can be given some rest, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said.
Personnel of the Maharashtra Police have been working ”day in and day out’ to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state, Deshmukh said.
Many state police personnel have tested positive for coronavirus and need time to rest and recuperate, he noted.
‘The festival of Eid is also around the corner and proper law and order has to be ensured. The police should get some rest for that. Hence, we have requested the Centre to deploy 20 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), that is 2,000 personnel,’ the minister said in a video message on Twitter.