First Mobile Tower at Remote CRPF Base | 17 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

The first mobile phone tower was set up inside the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Tekulagudem village, a remote area in the Naxal-affected Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. 

 Key Points 

  • BSNL Mobile Tower Operationalized: 
    • A Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) mobile tower is the first mobile connectivity facility in the area, benefiting both villagers and security personnel. 
    • The tower will serve Tekulagudem and nearby hamlets, including Timmapuram, Jonaguda, and Puvarti. 
      • The village is in Sukma district, which has been heavily affected by Naxal violence and shares a border with Bijapur in the Bastar region. 
  • Special Initiative for Villagers: 
    • BSNL officials traveled from Sukma headquarters and Raipur to operationalize the tower. 
    • A special camp was organized to distribute and activate SIM cards for the local population. 

 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)  

  • Inception and Evolution: 
    • The CRPF was initially established as the Crown Representatives Police in 1939 in response to political turmoil and unrest within the princely states. 
    • The force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force in 1949. 
    • Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the then Home Minister, envisioned a multifaceted role for the CRPF, aligning its functions with the evolving needs of a newly independent nation. 
  • Specialised Units: 
  • Achievements and Contributions: 
    • The force has thwarted attacks on important national landmarks, controlled militancy in Punjab and insurgency in Tripura, and made significant contributions to eradicating Naxalism. 
  • Honouring the Bravehearts: