RAF tackled over 300 fire incidents in riot-hit areas, deployed 700 personnel

Following the communal riots in northeast Delhi, the Rapid Action Force had tackled over 300 incidents of fire as compared to a few cases of quelling violent protestors.

Almost eight companies of the force, which is about 700 personnel, were actively deployed from February 25 in various riot-hit areas like Dayal Bagh, Govindpuri, Karawal Nagar, Khajuri Khas and Bhajanpura.

According to a senior official, the blue-dungaree donning RAF personnel rescued a number of people who were trapped inside burning houses even as they doused flames that had engulfed numerous buildings and vehicles parked on the road.

“Despite not having protective gears, the RAF personnel saved people from a number of fire engulfed buildings as there was no one else to help them,” he said.

“The RAF teams encountered as many 300-350 incidents of fire when they fanned out in these areas. The troops and the commanders led from the front and entered burning houses to rescue people,” said an RAF official.

Fire-fighting is not the primary charter of the RAF but as a force in uniform it is the duty to help people in distress, whether trapped in violent protests or in fire engulfed buildings.

As per an official report, RAF Commandant Bhavesh Chaudhary along with his two jawans, constables Shiromani Singh and Sunil Kumar, entered a burning house in Brijppuri area and helped to rescue a family on the night of February 25.

“This RAF team had also cleared the road beneath the Jaffrabad Metro station on the same day, which was blocked by protestors, by moving in heavy antiriot vehicles like Vajra,” said the official.

The force personnel also rescued those who were surrounded by violent mobs at numerous spots.