IPS officer Anand Prakash Maheshwari on Wednesday took over as the new director general of the CRPF, the world’s largest paramilitary force. The 1984-batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre was appointed the new CRPF chief on January 13 after its earlier DG R R Bhatnagar retired on December 31. Maheshwari took over the charge from ITBP Director General S S Deswal who was given the additional charge to head the CRPF. Maheshwari was handed over the ceremonial DG baton at the CRPF headquarters at Central Government Offices (CGO) complex at Lodhi Road here, a senior officer said. He will retire in February next year. The new chief was also accorded a guard of honour by force personnel, the officer said. Maheshwari, serving as special secretary (internal security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs till now, has earlier worked in the CRPF as inspector general (IG) and deputy IG. He has also headed the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) and served as an additional DG in the Border Security Force. With about 3.25 lakh personnel in its ranks, the Central Reserve Police Force is the world’s largest paramilitary force and is the lead internal security force of the country. It is also the lead force to conduct anti-Naxal operations in the country and to undertake counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
