Riots and rapid action: the special wing of the Central Reserve Police

This descriptive chapter highlights the organization and functioning of the Rapid Action Force, or RAF. After briefly underscoring the hierarchy within which the Force operates, and its position as a subsidiary of the CRPF, the chapter uses data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and the Times of India archive to understand personnel deployments. Then, it presents a brief case study as well as information gleaned through qualitative interviews about the Force’s role during the 2016 Haryana reservation agitation. It points to certain challenges that may moderate the Rapid Action Force’s agility, including resource deficits, a lack of coordination between the Center and states about deployment, the Force’s inability to retain organizational command during riot-like situations, and political considerations that make policymakers hesitant about seeking assistance about addressing law and order from the federal government.