The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters in Delhi has sent an oath message from the chief of the force to all formations that "every single member of the force" will take the oath and has asked senior officers like Inspectors General (IGs) and Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) to ensure compliance of the order taking it as a "personal challenge and responsibility."
On April six last year, armed Naxalites had ambushed an entire company of the force at Chintalnar in Dantewada killing 75 CRPF men and a state police official, giving a severe blow to the force in its anti-naxal operations.
"We remember our colleagues with a heavy heart who on this day April 6 (2010), sacrificed their lives, in the prime of their youth, fighting for the nation.
These colleagues of ours had come from different states, belonged to different religions, were trained together for a common cause, stayed together, dined together in the same langar and together fought against forces inimical to the safety and integrity of the nation.
"We will not let their sacrifices go in vain and pledge that we will not rest till we completely defeat these anti-national forces," the message said.
The force headquarters has also sent a Hindi version of the oath to the formation units.
"The Dantewada ambush was a big blow for the force.
Never ever such a large number of trained and armed personnel of a trained police force have been killed and hence the force took this incident as a challenge. The oath has been prepared by top CRPF officers in order to unite them as one unit," a senior CRPF officer said.
The CRPF headquarters has also instructed senior officers that "all formations according to their duties, convenience (should) take this pledge but without fail with maximum number of personnel."
The order states that during the time when the pledge is being taken by the personnel, security of the forces` camps and posts should not be compromised.
"Compliance to this instruction is also a test of communication and command at all levels," the order said.