Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar takes charge as Director General of CRPF

Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar took charge as Director General of Central Reserve Police Force on Friday. 

Bhatnagar served as DG of the Narcotics Control Bureau, an ADG rank post which has temporarily been upgraded to a Special DG rank. Bhatnagar belongs to the 1983 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS).

Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar was appointed DG of CRPF two days after the massacre of 25 CRPF men in Naxal attack in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. The paramilitary force was headless for nearly two months after the retirement of K Durga Prasad on 28 February.

Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar takes charge as DG,CRPF pic.twitter.com/88b3oRc2ek

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2017

The Centre also plans to procure advanced aerial surveillance equipment, including foliage penetration radar, to monitor the activities of Naxals, who operate in thick forests in Chhattisgarh and other states. 

The Home Ministry officials said initial reports from the ground indicated that the nearly 100-member CRPF team that came under fierce attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma did not follow the Standard Operating Procedure, which resulted in heavy casualties.