The CRPF’s special VIP security wing guarding top politicians and business tycoons may soon have the services of a professional psychologist. Read on to know why.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 8, 2023 12:13 IST
The CRPF’s VIP Security wing is seeking a professional psychologist to analyse various mental health parameters of its personnel (Representational photo)
By India Today Web Desk: Under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is among the Central Armed Police Forces and primarily assists states and Union Territories (UTs) in police operations to maintain law and order and counter insurgents, wherever applicable.
The central paramilitary force has a special VIP Security (VS) wing of over 6,000 personnel, currently guarding 110 VVIPs, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and business tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, among others.
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The country’s largest paramilitary force is now seeking to hire a professional psychologist to analyse various mental health parameters of its VIP security unit commandos, according to the news agency PTI. On February 1, the force, which was raised in 1939 as the Crown Representatives Police during British rule, issued an advertisement to engage a clinical psychologist, to be based at a camp in Greater Noida near Delhi, which also serves as the garrison for its VIP security unit.
According to a CRPF notice, the candidate should hold a degree in clinical psychology or applied psychology from a recognised Indian or foreign university. The applicant should be below 40 and have a PhD in the said subject and a three-year of work experience as a practising psychologist. The monthly remuneration will be around ₹ 50,000-Rs 60,000.
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WHY A SHRINK FOR COMMANDOS?
The CRPF’s move to hire a clinical psychologist comes after Odisha minister Health Minister Naba Kishore Das was shot dead allegedly by an assistant sub-inspector during a public event on January 29. The PTI report quoted a senior officer as saying that VIP security duties are a zero-error and high-stress and skill job and a psychological assessment of the commandos at the time of entry and during service is essential. However, the officer said the Odisha incident had no bearing on the hiring and that the decision was taken some time back.
A psychologist studies the human mind, emotions, and behaviour, and how different situations impact people. They also devise and monitor appropriate treatment programmes including therapy, counselling or advice to patients with psychological disorders or needing psychological support.
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The cop who allegedly killed the Odisha minister was being treated for bipolar disorder by a psychiatrist and had anger issues, media reports quoting the doctor of the accused have said. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that range from hyper-mania to depression.
The PTI report on the CRPF’s move quoted an officer as saying that because VIP security tasks will multiply with the upcoming election season, including the general elections to be held next year, a start has been made and the force is hopeful of getting good results by hiring the services of a professional psychologist.
The officials said more such professionals could be engaged in the future for its other specialised and regular units that are engaged in combat theatres like anti-Naxal operations, counter-terrorist offensive in Jammu and Kashmir and counter-insurgency tasks in the northeast states.
The lead internal security central force of the country, re-named CRPF in 1949, two years after Independence, uses some sophisticated firearms like the MP5 submachines, X95, Glock pistols, bullet-resistant armour and digital communications setup.
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