For the first time in 47 years, CRPF completes 12 straight months without an operational fatality – PM hails 'a ZERO that speaks volumes'

3 November 2026 · English Defence

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Topics: Defence · 3 November 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

CRPF Director General G.P. Singh announced on X on 2 Nov 2026 that the Central Reserve Police Force has gone 12 consecutive months (one year) without any operational fatality. The last operational fatality was on 30 Oct 2025; the previous such stretch ended in January 1979 – making this the first in 47 years. He called it 'specially significant' as the force remains intensely engaged in all theatres – anti-Naxal (Left Wing Extremism) operations, counter-terrorism in J&K and counter-insurgency in the North-East. PM Modi on 3 Nov hailed it as 'A ZERO that speaks volumes'.

Key facts

Announced	CRPF DG G.P. Singh, 2 Nov 2026 (post on X)
Period	Last operational fatality 30 Oct 2025 → 12 straight months; previous such stretch ended Jan 1979
Theatres	Naxal (LWE) areas, Jammu & Kashmir, North-Eastern States
Force	≈ 3.25 lakh personnel; India's largest CAPF
2025	9 CRPF personnel killed in operations (till 30 Oct)
Praise	PM Modi, 3 Nov 2026 – 'A ZERO that speaks volumes'

Background

• Special wings: CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) – a jungle-warfare commando unit raised in 2008 for anti-Naxal operations. Rapid Action Force (RAF) – raised in 1992 to handle riots and communal violence. The force also has Mahila (women) battalions.
• History: 'Valour Day' is observed every year in memory of 9 April 1965, when a small CRPF detachment at Sardar Post in Kutch, Gujarat, beat back an attack by a Pakistani brigade. In April 2010 a Maoist ambush in Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh, killed more than 70 CRPF personnel.
• Constitution: Article 355 makes it the Union's duty to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure its government runs as per the Constitution; central forces such as the CRPF are sent to States on this basis. The Centre had set 31 March 2026 as the target to end Left Wing Extremism.

Tamil Nadu link: K. Vijay Kumar (1975-batch IPS, Tamil Nadu cadre), the Special Task Force chief who led 'Operation Cocoon' (Oct 2004, near Papparapatti, Dharmapuri district) that ended sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, later became Director General of the CRPF in 2010.

Source: PTI / ThePrint, 2 Nov 2026; ANI, 3 Nov 2026 (PM's praise); OrissaPOST, 2 Nov 2026; The Statesman (Sardar Post); Deccan Herald (K. Vijay Kumar as CRPF chief); The Tribune, 20 Oct 2004 (Operation Cocoon)

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