Pune: On the backdrop of the increasing numbers of COVID patients and upcoming Eid festival, one company (120 personnel) of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel will be deployed in the city to assist the Pune police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Mitesh Ghate said that the CAPF will assist Pune city police in bandobast duty in the containment zones.  There 69 such zones declared by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the CAPF deployment will be done as per the requirements in those areas.

Maharashtra government has sought 20 companies of CAPF as the state police force is already deployed at full strength for maintaining law and order during Coronavirus outbreak. Also, over 1,000 personnel and officers of Maharashtra Police are infected with COVID, while eight have lost their lives till now. 

Maharashtra urged the centre for additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Maharashtra to battle the coronavirus crisis.

Meanwhile, Anil Deshmukh, Home Minister of Maharashtra on Wednesday said that a number of Mumbai Police personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 and as long working hours are leaving cops stretched, thus the Maharashtra requested the Centre to deploy CAPF to reduce stress on state police during the lockdown. He said, “May 25th is Ramzan Eid when we'll need augmented security presence to ensure law and order is not disturbed. We've asked for 20 CAPF companies to be deployed urgently to help the police.”

Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the deployment of the Central forces in the state to give rest to police personnel who are tired due to coronavirus duty.

Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday itself agreed Maharashtra’s request and decided to provide additional 20 companies of Central Armed Police Force to assist the state police.