Patna: Bihar Police Headquarters has ordered the formation of District Anti-Riot Forces (DARF) across the state to strengthen the police response to riots, violent protests, communal tensions, crowd-control situations and other law-and-order emergencies.
The new district-level units will operate at district and subdivision levels and will include specially trained police personnel, women police personnel, medical teams, videography staff and communication personnel.
49 Anti-Riot Companies to Be Created
Bihar will divide districts into A, B and C categories and set up 49 anti-riot companies with 294 vehicles. Patna will get the largest deployment with three companies and 18 vehicles.
Major districts will receive two companies, Category B districts one company each, while Category C districts will have one platoon. The move aims to strengthen specialised law-and-order response based on district needs.
Read Also: From Classroom to Hostel, Bihar’s New Portal Promises Time-Bound Action on Student Grievances
Specialised Training for Anti-Riot Personnel
DARF personnel will undergo one-month specialised training at police centres in their respective districts. Selected trainers will first receive Training of Trainers (ToT) at the Rapid Action Force Academy for Public Order (RAPO), Meerut.
Afterward, these trainers will train selected officers and constables. Each platoon will also undergo a one-week refresher course every three months to maintain emergency readiness.
47 Personnel in Each Platoon
Each DARF company will consist of three platoons, with every platoon having 47 personnel.
The force will bring together different types of personnel required for crowd-control and emergency response, including:
- Specially trained police personnel and women police personnel
- Tear-gas and lathi personnel
- Armed personnel, drivers and wireless operators
- Medical or ambulance support teams
- Videography, communication and reserve personnel
Each platoon will receive two vehicles — one bus and one truck.
DSP-Rank Officer to Head District Force
The Deputy Superintendent of Police (Reserve) will serve as the officer in charge of the district anti-riot force.
The officer will oversee the deployment and discipline of personnel and ensure the availability of communication systems, protective equipment and other operational resources.
The officer will also be responsible for maintaining records of actions taken during operations.
Category-Wise Deployment Across Bihar
The deployment plan covers districts across all three categories.
Category A includes Patna, which will receive three companies, while Gaya, Rohtas, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Motihari, Bettiah, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Bhagalpur and Begusarai will receive two companies each.
Category B includes Nalanda, Aurangabad, Nawada, Jehanabad, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, Siwan, Gopalganj, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Banka, Munger, Jamui and Khagaria. Each will receive one company and six vehicles.
Category C includes Arwal, Sheohar, Bagaha, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura and Naugachia. Each will receive one platoon and two vehicles.
Teams to Move Within 20 Minutes
One of the key features of the new system is a fixed response timeline.
When a district control room receives information about a riot or violent situation, it will immediately alert the concerned DARF unit. The team will be required to leave for the designated location within 20 minutes of receiving the information.
At the scene, the DARF will coordinate with senior police officers and continuously assess the situation before taking action according to operational requirements.
Strengthening Bihar’s Law-and-Order Response
The creation of district-level anti-riot forces is aimed at giving Bihar Police a dedicated and trained mechanism for handling sudden law-and-order challenges.
With specialised training, dedicated vehicles, periodic refresher courses and a defined response timeline, the DARF system is expected to improve police preparedness and enable faster mobilisation during violent protests, communal tensions, crowd-control situations and other emergencies.
Read Also: Bihar to Set Up Centres of Excellence for Regional Languages
